BRUSSELS – The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen organised a working lunch for the leaders of the “Western Balkans Six” today in Brussels, after which she said that “all six countries belong to Europe”. She also pointed out that one of the main topics of discussion was the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
“Today I received the leaders of six partners from the Western Balkans. All six countries belong in Europe. This is what we are working on. In parallel, we are bringing their economies and markets closer to ours with our 6 billion Growth Plan for the region,” the EC President wrote in a post on the X.
Today I received the leaders of the six Western Balkan partners.
All six countries belong in Europe.
This is what we are working on.
In parallel, we are bringing their economies and markets closer to ours with our €6 billion Growth Plan for the region. pic.twitter.com/FDk7fPeXLc
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 19, 2024
The meeting was attended by the EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Ministers of Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia – Edi Rama, Milojko Spajić, Aljbin Kurti and Hristijan Mickoski – while BiH was represented by Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers.
The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans aims to double economic growth in these countries over the next ten years. The Plan covers the period from 2024 to 2027. All countries had to submit Reform Agendas to the European Commission as a pre-condition for the release of funds.
Earlier today, Radio Free Europe reported that the document submitted by Bosnia and Herzegovina to Brussels does not meet the criteria to be eligible for the European Commission, which has delayed the process of their adoption for the entire region. According to its sources, BiH sent an incomplete document that does not reflect all the EC recommendations.