European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen begins her highly anticipated tour of the Western Balkans today, aiming to reinforce the European Union’s commitment to closer integration with the region. The tour comes as the EU seeks to accelerate reforms and address key challenges in Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
During her visit, Von der Leyen is expected to meet with top officials in each country, starting in Albania, where she will hold talks with President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama. Her first stop will also include attending the inauguration of the European College Campus in Tirana. This visit signals the EU’s continued support for Albania’s EU membership ambitions.
The tour will continue in North Macedonia on October 24, where she will discuss ongoing political challenges, particularly the recent debates surrounding the Albanian language, which remains a sensitive issue in the country’s internal politics. Von der Leyen’s meetings will focus on strengthening reforms aimed at fostering stability and inclusivity.
Next, Von der Leyen will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess the recovery efforts following severe floods earlier this month. The EU has already pledged assistance to the region, and the visit will further underline the bloc’s commitment to helping affected areas rebuild.
On October 25, the Commission President will travel to Serbia to meet President Aleksandar Vu?i?. Talks are expected to focus on the contentious relationship between Serbia and Kosovo, as tensions between the two neighbours continue to pose challenges to the stability of the region.
The following day, Von der Leyen will be in Kosovo, where she will meet with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Discussions will centre on Kosovo’s EU membership application and ongoing efforts to meet the requirements for candidacy.
Von der Leyen will conclude her tour in Montenegro, where she will meet with national leaders in Podgorica on October 27. Montenegro has been one of the front-runners in the EU accession process, and the visit will likely focus on further progress towards membership.
The tour coincides with the upcoming approval of the EU’s annual enlargement package, which will include progress reports on each Western Balkans country. While most of the region’s nations are advancing in their EU integration journeys, Kosovo remains outside the top candidate list. Its December 2022 application for membership is still under review, and the country has not yet been granted candidate status.
The European Union has earmarked €6 billion in financial aid to support growth and reforms in the region, with the goal of accelerating their path toward EU membership. However, only those countries with official candidate status can benefit from the package, leaving Kosovo at a disadvantage.
Von der Leyen’s visit comes at a critical time for the Western Balkans, as the EU looks to bolster ties amid growing geopolitical uncertainty in Europe, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has raised security concerns across the continent.
Her tour is seen as a reaffirmation of the EU’s commitment to the region’s integration, despite the frustrations many countries have voiced over the slow pace of progress.
