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| EU and Western Balkans leaders, December, 2023 |
European leaders have issued a call to expedite the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union, as highlighted in the recent EU and Western Balkans Summit in Brussels. The summit emphasized three key pillars for discussions and concrete actions: hastening the accession of Balkan countries into the EU, increasing EU investments, and bolstering cyber security.
Referencing the Thessaloniki Agenda and declarations from Sofia, Zagreb, Brdo, and Tirana, the EU underscores its unwavering commitment to the prospect of Western Balkans' membership in the European Union. The statement urges the acceleration of the membership process, contingent upon credible reforms by partner nations, fair and stringent conditionality, and adherence to the principle of merit for all, emphasizing the mutual interest in this approach. The EU acknowledges the progress achieved by Western Balkans partners on their respective paths towards EU integration since the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana. The statement concludes by asserting that the future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union.