Accusations and disappointment instead of concrete progress: the heads of government of the EU states discussed with their colleagues from Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina for almost four hours – but the top meeting of the EU with the Western Balkan countries remained without much rapprochement.
Accusations and disappointment instead of concrete progress: The top meeting between the EU and the Western Balkan countries ended on Thursday in Brussels without any rapprochement, as high-ranking EU officials confirmed. The actual EU summit in the afternoon was then supposed to deal with the accession candidates of Ukraine and the neighboring countries Moldova and Georgia. Albania warned Ukrainians not to “have any illusions” despite the expected approval.
The heads of state and government of the EU states discussed with their colleagues from Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina for almost four hours. After that it was clear: the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania is still blocked. Accordingly, there was also no rapprochement with Serbia in the dispute over the implementation of EU sanctions against Russia. An originally planned press conference was canceled due to time constraints.
Before the deliberations, EU Council President Charles Michel had called for the process with the Western Balkans to “get going again” after years of deadlock. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also advocated a clear EU perspective for North Macedonia and the five other countries.
“Germany will support the activities of the western Balkan states on their way to the European Union,” he said. The chancellor emphasized that the federal states had been promised an EU perspective for the first time in 2003, almost 20 years ago.
North Macedonia has had the candidate status that Ukraine and Moldova are hoping for from the EU for 17 years. Albania has been a candidate for eight years. Nevertheless, the start of the crucial accession negotiations with the EU has been blocked for years.
The EU country Bulgaria had put in its veto because it is demanding concessions from its neighbor North Macedonia in favor of the Bulgarian minority. The pro-European head of government, Kiril Petkow, has signaled a concede in the past few days, mediated by France; but then he fell on Wednesday after just six months in office by a vote of no confidence in parliament.
In Brussels, Petkov emphasized that the Bulgarian parliament is now in charge: “As long as Parliament has not made a decision, the Bulgarian position will remain unchanged.”
Albanian President Edi Rama called it “a disgrace that a NATO country – Bulgaria – is taking two other countries, Albania and North Macedonia, hostage in a hot war.” He accused the other EU countries of “impotence”. The EU wants to jointly open talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was also sober in Brussels. He expects “nothing” from the meeting with EU leaders, he said. On Wednesday evening, Vucic, together with Albania and North Macedonia, even threatened to boycott the summit, but then traveled there.
Several EU countries addressed Serbia’s refusal to participate in EU sanctions against Russia, according to an EU official. Vucic rejected the criticism. The Serbian President said that the recognition of Kosovo demanded by Scholz is still not an issue for Serbia.