The EU and Western Balkans leaders’ summit will take place today in Brussels, serving as an opportunity to continue building momentum for a strategic partnership between the EU and the region. It will also provide a platform for exchanging views on how to deepen this partnership and advance together towards a future within the EU, as announced by the European Council earlier today.
During the summit, key topics will include strengthening EU integration with the Western Balkans through the Growth Plan, deepening EU political engagement with the Western Balkans in various areas such as foreign and security policy, building an economic foundation for the future, mitigating the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and enhancing cooperation in migration management, the fight against corruption, and organized crime.
Following the working session, which is scheduled to begin at around 5:45 PM, a working dinner will take place at 8:00 PM, during which leaders are expected to discuss the geopolitical context and challenges affecting both regions.
The summit will be chaired for the first time by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and will also feature participation by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Costa and von der Leyen are set to hold a press conference at approximately 7:30 PM.
At the end of the summit, a joint declaration is expected to be released. According to a draft of the document obtained by Tanjug, the declaration reaffirms the EU’s full and unequivocal commitment to the Western Balkans’ membership perspective, emphasizing that the region’s future lies within the Union.
EU-Western Balkans summits have been held since 2018, with the most recent one also taking place in Brussels in December 2023.
Vučić’s two-day visit to Brussels
The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, is embarking on a two-day visit to Brussels, where he will participate in the EU and Western Balkans Leaders’ Summit as well as the European People’s Party (EPP) Western Balkans Summit.
According to a statement from the President’s Media Cooperation Office, President Vučić is scheduled to meet separately with the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, on December 18 and 19.
The Serbian President is also expected to meet with the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, and the President of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber.
(RTV, 18.12.2024)
https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/samit-lidera-eu-i-zapadnog-balkana-u-briselu_1593268.html
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Publish date : 2024-12-17 16:00:00
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