The Berlin Process and the Trieste summit 2017

Background to, and reports of, the 2017 Western Balkans Summit, Trieste, Italy, 12 July 2017. This was the fourth Western Balkan summit of the Berlin Process. Trieste was seen as a city which symbolically linked the EU and the Western Balkans.

Several EU Member States (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and the UK) and the region's six countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) reviewed current progress and discussed a broad agenda in an attempt to go further with regional cooperation, increase coherence and deepen economic integration.

Among the central themes of the summit was growth, security and the rule of law, the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperation in the fight against corruption.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: Press Release, IP/17/1938 (11.07.17): 2017 Western Balkans Summit – stepping up regional cooperation to advance on the European Union path http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1938_en.htm

Politico, 11-12.07.17: Trieste test for Western Balkan unity http://www.politico.eu/article/trieste-test-for-western-balkan-unity/

ESO: Background information: How structural reforms and European integration can help aid the convergence of Western Balkan states with the EU (EuroppBlog, July 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-structural-reforms-and-european-integration-can-help-aid-the-convergence-of-western-balkan-states-with-the-eu/

EP: EPRS: At a Glance, July 2017: Russia in the Western Balkans (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-in-the-western-balkans/

ESO: Background information: The Western Balkans in the European Union: Enlargement to What, Accession to What? (IAI: Documenti IAI No.12, 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-western-balkans-in-the-european-union-enlargement-to-what-accession-to-what/

EU: EEAS: Factsheet, 11.07.17: Factsheet: EU Engagement in the Western Balkans https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/29660/

Politico, 12-13.07.17: In Trieste, modest expectations for Western Balkan integration http://www.politico.eu/article/trieste-eu-summit-modest-expectations-for-western-balkan-integration/

European Commission: DG Communication: Press Release, IP/17/2007 (12.07.17): Western Balkans Summit 2017: delivering for the region http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-2007_en.htm

Italy: Ministry of Foreign Affars and International Development: Archive, 12.07.17: Trieste Western Balkan Summit. Declaration by the Italian Chair http://www.esteri.it/mae/it/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/approfondimenti/trieste-western-balkan-summit-declaration.html

EUObserver, 13.07.17: EU restates Balkans pledge, warns of Russia https://euobserver.com/foreign/138515

EurActiv, 13.07.17: At Trieste trilateral, Italy laments migrant burden http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/at-trieste-trilateral-italy-laments-migrant-burden/

EurActiv, 13.07.17: Balkans can help EU ‘feel attractive’ after Brexit, Macedonia says http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/balkans-can-help-eu-feel-attractive-after-brexit-macedonia-says/

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: Western Balkans: further than ever from EU membership? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/182469/western-balkans-further-than-ever-from-eu-membership

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/1967, 12.07.17: Western Balkans: Regional Economic Area http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-1967_en.htm

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 14.07.17: Has the Western Balkans 6 process become a ‘surrogate for the real thing’? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/07/14/has-the-western-balkans-6-process-become-a-surrogate-for-the-real-thing/

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 17.07.17: Remarks by Federica Mogherini following the Western Balkans Summit 2017 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/29963/

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