EU-Western Balkans leaders’ meeting, 23 June 2022

Summary:

A meeting between national leaders of the European Union (EU) and heads of state or government from the Western Balkans region was held on 23 June 2022, ahead of a European Council summit.

Further information:

Leaders discussion progress on EU integration, how to advance the EU enlargement processm the challenges stemming from Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and wider geostrategic issues. They also took stock of progress on key investments in the framework of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 20/06/2022: What Has Stopped EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans? https://carnegieeurope.eu/2022/06/20/what-has-stopped-eu-enlargement-in-western-balkans-pub-87348

Balkan Insight: Opinion, 20/06/2022: The EU Mustn’t Betray its Promises to the Western Balkans https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/20/the-eu-mustnt-betray-its-promises-to-the-western-balkans/

Friedrich Ebert Foundation: IPS Journal, 21/06/2022: A turning point for EU integration? https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/european-integration/a-turning-point-in-eu-integration-6008/

London School of Economics (LSE): EUROPP Blog, 22/06/2022: As Ukraine pushes for EU candidate status, enlargement hopes fade in the Western Balkans https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/06/22/as-ukraine-pushes-for-eu-candidate-status-enlargement-hopes-fade-in-the-western-balkans/

Euronews, 22/06/2022: How close are the Western Balkans to joining the European Union? https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/06/22/how-close-are-the-western-balkans-to-joining-the-european-union

Associated Press (AP News): Explainer, 22/06/2022: Western Balkans’ promised EU future still hazy https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-serbia-brussels-european-union-commission-23e0b9bb5e98e80b8b5f736e80eea30b

EPRS: At a Glance, June 2022: EU - Western Balkans leaders’ meeting of 23 June 2022 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)730338

German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP): Online Commentary, 23/06/2022: Enlarging to the Western Balkans https://dgap.org/en/research/publications/enlarging-western-balkans

France24: Talking Europe, 24/06/2022: 'EU candidate status is a kind of anti-depressant pill': Albanian PM Edi Rama https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/talking-europe/20220624-eu-candidate-status-is-a-kind-of-anti-depressant-pill-albanian-pm-edi-rama

Emerging Europe: News & Analysis, 27/06/2022: With all eyes on Ukraine, has the EU given up on the Western Balkans? https://emerging-europe.com/news/with-all-eyes-on-ukraine-has-the-eu-given-up-on-the-western-balkans/

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): In Brief, 28/06/2022: Yet another failure of EU leadership in the Western Balkans https://www.ceps.eu/yet-another-failure-of-eu-leadership-in-the-western-balkans/

Foreign Policy, 28/06/2022: EU Enlargement Is Broken in the Balkans https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/28/eu-membership-ukraine-moldova-macedonia-balkans/

European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Commentary, 29/06/2022: Enlarged and in charge: Why the EU needs a new approach to accession https://ecfr.eu/article/enlarged-and-in-charge-why-the-eu-needs-a-new-approach-to-accession/

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News

RFE/RL, 20/06/2022: EU Rapporteur Adds To Pressure For Brussels To Give Balkans 'Something' Amid Ukraine Push https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-balkans-ukraine-bid/31906043.html

EurActiv, 22/06/2022: Albania confirms presence at EU summit, no word from Serbia, North Macedonia https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/albania-confirms-presence-at-eu-summit-no-word-from-serbia-north-macedonia/

Swissinfo.ch, 22/06/2022: Balkans losing hope of progress on EU membership https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/balkans-losing-hope-of-progress-on-eu-membership/47694416

Politico, 23/06/2022: Western Balkans leaders fume after summit fails to unblock EU bids https://www.politico.eu/article/western-balkan-leader-fuming-bulgaria-veto-deadlock-summit/

EurActiv, 23/06/2022: Western Balkans fume over enlargement deadlock https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/western-balkans-fume-over-enlargement-deadlock/

Deutsche Welle, 23/06/2022: EU will 'stand by its promises' on Western Balkans enlargement https://p.dw.com/p/4D1wc

Deutsche Welle, 23/06/2022: Western Balkans determined on membership after EU talks https://p.dw.com/p/4D6Oo

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Official

European Council: Doorstep of President Charles Michel ahead of the European Council and the EU-Western Balkans’ leaders meeting (23 June 2022) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/23/doorstep-of-president-charles-michel-ahead-of-the-european-council-and-the-eu-western-balkans-leaders-meeting/

Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 23/06/2022: Member States should support clear & credible path to EU accession for Ukraine, Moldova & Western Balkans https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/member-states-should-support-clear-credible-path-to-eu-accession-for-ukraine-moldova-western-balkans

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