EPP Group supports EU ambitions of Western Balkans

The EPP Group confirmed its support for the EU ambitions of the Western Balkan countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. Politicians from those countries, EPP Group MEPs and the EPP Group Chairman took part in an annual high-level conference in Brussels, where ways to build a common future together were discussed.

Progress in normalisation of relations between Balkan countries

“The Western Balkans are one of our priorities,” said EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber. He underlined the need to preserve security and peace in the region. “There is no doubt about the Western Balkans' general EU perspectives. It is clear for all of us. The EU has to be, first of all, a credible partner that must deliver. Another point: we will make further steps if we are concrete. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Bulgarian Presidency of the European Council did a great job in this regard.”

There is no doubt about the Western Balkans' general EU perspectives Manfred Weber

“The commitment by the EU to integrate those countries when they are ready was reconfirmed in Sofia. There are some positive signs, like the good neighbourliness and friendship agreement signed between Sofia and Skopje and the agreement reached with Greece, which is currently being debated in the Parliament in Skopje,” said Andrey Kovatchev, EPP Group Vice-Chairman, who is deeply involved in the process.

There are some positive signs, like the good neighbourliness and friendship agreement signed between Sofia and Skopje and the agreement reached with Greece Andrey Kovatchev

As a good example of regional cooperation he also mentioned the process of normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. “We count very much on this and we hope that, under the EU umbrella, there will be progress,” said Kovatchev. He underlined the cut in roaming costs in the region and the possibility for young people to benefit from the Erasmus programme as a good way of demonstrating the benefits of the EU.

Challenges on the path to European integration

But the overall progress continues to be insufficient; there are problems in the fight against corruption and on the rule of law.

Some of the countries are in a difficult economic situation, with high unemployment.

In some countries there are growing ethnic tensions between communities. The migration crisis and the influence of third countries also make the situation tougher.

The aim of the EPP Group is to support all the efforts of the Western Balkans towards European integration.

Kosovo

Avdullah Hoti, Chairman of the LDK parliamentary group in the Kosovan Parliament, said that the current political crisis in Kosovo might be resolved by new elections, because now issues of national interest that need wider consensus can’t be addressed by the current government.

He reiterated: “Our party fully supports the dialogue with Serbia because it is a fundamental principle of our political engagement. Any ideas of territorial exchanges or border correction will not find any support whatsoever. We strongly believe that drawing borders based on ethnic grounds is fundamentally wrong and will have spiral effects beyond the Balkans.”

Serbia

Vladimir Orlic, Deputy Head of the Serbian Progressive Party parliamentary group in the Serbian Parliament, said: “On Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have a strong will to work farther with all legitimate representatives, as we always did.”

He also pointed out that the achievements of each state on the path to European integration should be assessed on the basis of individual results. “We are expecting to open at least three or four new negotiating chapters at the next opportunity. At that moment, five chapters will be fully ready and prepared,” said Orlic, adding that now support among Serbian citizens for EU membership is 55% and hence 4% higher than in the previous poll.

FYROM

Referring to the Prespa Agreement, Aleksandar Nikoloski, VMRO-DPMNE Vice-President, set out his views: “We are stuck in the process of gaining membership of NATO and the EU.”

He added that his party has tried to be constructive on the referendum and agreement with Greece, but didn’t meet the same attitude from the government. “The question that the government put on the referendum was misleading and was one of the key reasons why people decided to stay at home and not to vote,” said Nikoloski.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bakir Izetbegovic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President of the Party of Democratic Action, pointed out that there are reasons for the sometimes slow progress of his country. “We lived through a horrible war that ruined not only the country, but also the relationships between people, and this is not easy to heal. We are a wounded nation! We spend 1 million euro every day to support wounded people and families who lost their brothers, fathers… And in our coalition of five, each can stop the process, everybody has a break in his hand. And finally - young people are leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina.” EU membership remains one of the priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reiterated Mr. Izetbegovic.

Albania

“We know from experience that technologies, IT in particular, have the advantage of helping countries to bypass or make quantum leaps in stages of development,” said Lulzim Basha, President of the Democratic Party in Albania, underlining the importance of connectivity and digital cooperation.

“Connectivity can help to fill longstanding divides in the Balkans. I strongly believe that it can help solve some of the main issues that we are facing - for example multi-ethnic and multicultural coexistence in the Balkans and the fight against organised crime, brain drain and the migration of young people,” said Mr. Basha.

EPP President Joseph Daul, who closed the conference, said that the Western Balkans region needs reconciliation. “We have to invest more in the region, in the roads as well as in the digital infrastructure. The EU will always be on your side. We will continue to support you,” concluded Mr. Daul.