The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has raised alarm over increasing tensions in the Western Balkans, emphasizing the urgent need to push forward with the EU enlargement process. Her remarks came ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
“We see that tensions are rising, and we definitely need to move forward with the enlargement process. This is something tangible, and we really need success stories,” Kallas stated, highlighting the importance of continued progress by Western Balkan countries on their path toward EU membership as a means to ensure regional stability.
Although Kallas did not name specific countries where tensions are escalating, international attention has been focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recent actions by the authorities in Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia, have raised significant concerns among the international community about the potential for secessionist moves.
Kallas also noted that she had hosted “a very good dinner with our friends” from the Western Balkans the previous evening. Among those present was Kosovo’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla, who also held a separate bilateral meeting with Kallas.
Following the meeting, Gërvalla stressed that she urged the EU to treat Kosovo as “an equal and respected partner in all integration processes.” She called for increased European commitment to Kosovo’s EU accession path, underlining Pristina’s expectations for fair treatment and inclusion in all relevant regional and European initiatives.
Kallas's remarks reinforce a growing sentiment within EU institutions that enlargement is not merely a strategic option but a necessary step to maintain peace and security in Europe’s southeastern neighborhood.