17 May 2018•Update: 18 May 2018
SOFIA, Bulgaria
The European Union on Thursday reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the Western Balkans region at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia.
In a declaration, EU leaders and member states agreed that the bloc welcomes the shared commitment of the Western Balkans partners to European values and principles, and to the vision of a strong, stable and united Europe.
"The EU supports the Western Balkans partners' pledge to continue strengthening good neighborly relations, regional stability and mutual cooperation.
“This includes in particular finding and implementing definitive, inclusive and binding solutions for their bilateral disputes rooted in the legacy of the past and devoting additional efforts to reconciliation," it said.
The declaration also stipulates that building a network of ties and opportunities with the EU and the region is crucial for bringing citizens and economies together, as well as for strengthening political stability, economic prosperity, cultural and social development.
The EU agrees with the encouragement of a favorable market and investment environment in the Western Balkans in order to move faster towards a digital economy and climate-friendly societies in line with the Paris Agreement.
The declaration also mentioned a number of security challenges that require coordinated and collective action, as required by the fight against terrorism.
European Union and Western Balkans leaders met in Sofia Thursday for their first summit in 15 years, focusing on European integration, as well as closer cooperation in the region.
The summit was attended by leaders from the Western Balkans -- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Kosovo, none of them EU members -- as well as heads of state and government of member states and top EU officials.
The summit began with a plenary session on connectivity, followed by a working lunch.
Next summit in 2 years
Leaders of the Western Balkan countries signed a statement supporting the digital agenda for their region. Serbia also signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Investment Bank, as well as issued a joint statement on the construction of the Bulgaria-Serbia gas interconnector.
European Council President Donald Tusk said it took too long to hold EU-Western Balkans summit, therefore, it had been decided that the next one would be held in two years.
"We have just concluded a very good and fruitful EU-Western Balkans summit.
"I believe that it took us too long since our last meeting in Thessaloniki 15 years ago, and this is why we decided to meet again in two years in Croatia. This is the best illustration that the integration with the Western Balkans is a top priority for the EU," Tusk said.
"We reaffirmed our mutual commitment to the European perspective for the whole region. As I said during my recent visit to the region, the European Union is and will remain the most reliable partner of the entire Western Balkans," he told the media after the plenary session.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pointed out that the summit has made even better connections with the Western Balkans which is step-by-step approaching the EU, at their own pace and according to their own merits.
"Membership in the EU means the sharing of values and principles, such as respect for the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression -- because the EU is above all a union of values and rights," Juncker said.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters they spoke about the significance of the digital agenda, that is, the money that will be allocated for infrastructure providing the basis for economic growth.
"We talked about other infrastructure projects, one of which is the construction of the Nis-Pristina highway.
“We expect to start building this road essentially before the end of the year and 80 percent would be paid for it and finance it with the most favorable interest rate, which will be supported by the European Investment Bank, while 20 percent would be funds and gifts, and that would mean a lot for the development of the poorest part of our country," Vucic added.
