Ursula von der Layen: Supporting Western Balkans to achieve reforms

Tanjug/AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the virtual Summit of the Berlin Process on Monday that the EU's priority is to "accelerate the enlargement agenda across the Western Balkans and support partners from the region to achieve the necessary reforms to advance on their European path."

The Summit focused on the region’s progress in economic integration within the Joint Action Plan for Regional Markets adopted at the Sofia Summit in 2020 and the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan adopted by the European Commission last autumn.

Also, following the EU’s decision to consider lifting travel restrictions for the Western Balkans, a package of financial and technical assistance will be provided to the region to join the „digital EU COVID-19 certificate“ and facilitate travel between the region and the EU.

„But our engagement in the Western Balkans goes beyond and the Berlin Process has served as an incubator for many initiatives that have now become an integral part of EU policy towards the region. Together, we have set the direction for a more sustainable, digital and resilient Europe,“ Von der Leyen said.

Representatives of the European Commission reaffirmed their commitment to co-operate and support the Western Balkans during its post-pandemic recovery through the Economic and Investment Plan focusing on the green and digital transition, sustainable energy, digital infrastructure, business sector development and human capital, including youth.

The Commission called for further progress in the region’s economic integration to reap the full benefits of planned investments.

It said that within the implementation of the Economic Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, it intends to propose an investment package of 500 million euros for 2021.

Olivér Várhelyi, Europen Commissioner for Enlargement, said that closing the socio-economic differences between the Western Balkans and the EU is crucial for the enlargement process.

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„We bring significant opportunities for investments to the region through the Economic and Investment Plan. It is now up to the region to make good use of it, utilising its full economic potential and establishing a Common Regional Market based on EU rules,“ Várhelyi said.

After facilitating the logistics of border crossings within the region during the coronavirus pandemic by establishing so-called ‘green corridors’, the initiative is now entering a new phase with Greece expressing political readiness to approve the extension of them to the Western Balkans. It is ready to introduce it at its crossings with Albania and Northern Macedonia.

The Summit welcomed the entry into force of the agreement on cancelling roaming between the Western Balkan countries on July 1. The next step being prepared is the phasing out of roaming costs between the Western Balkans and the EU.