EU-Western Balkans summit, 6 October 2021

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Publication Date 06/10/2021
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Summary:

A summit bringing together leaders of the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans region - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo - was held in Slovenia on 6 October 2021.

Further information:

The EU leaders adopted the so-called Brdo Declaration during the summit. It reaffirms the European perspective of the Western Balkans, which supports the enlargement process for each of its countries. It also sets out initiatives to support connectivity and the twin (green & digital) transitions in the region, and commitments in the area of political and security cooperation. The leaders of the Western Balkans decided to align themselves with this Declaration.

The summit was part of the implementation of the European Council's 2019-2024 Strategic Agenda. To underpin the relevance of the relationship between the EU and the region, the leaders also decided to regularly hold EU-Western Balkans summits.

On the eve of this summit, an informal European Council meeting took place to discuss the EU's role in the world. EU leaders recalled their support to multilateralism and to a rules-based international order.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
European People's Party: News, 05/10/2021: EPP EU-Western Balkans Summit: credible enlargement is based on shared responsibility https://www.epp.eu/news/epp-eu-western-balkans-summit-credible-enlargement-is-based-on-shared-responsibility
Euronews, 05/10/2021: Where do Western Balkan nations stand with their EU membership bids? https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/05/eu-facing-crisis-of-credibility-in-western-balkans-as-leaders-meet-for-regional-summit
Balkan Insight: Analysis, 06/10/2021: Western Balkans Awaits EU Summit as Membership Hopes Falter https://balkaninsight.com/2021/10/06/western-balkans-awaits-eu-summit-as-membership-hopes-falter/
LSE: EUROPP Blog, 06/10/2021: Without an enhanced engagement strategy, the EU risks losing relevance in the Western Balkans https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2021/10/06/without-an-enhanced-engagement-strategy-the-eu-risks-losing-relevance-in-the-western-balkans/
Party of European Socialists: News, 06/10/2021: PES calls for progress on European future for the Western Balkans https://pes.eu/news_content.php?id=1465
Kathimerini: Opinion, 07/10/2021: A united Europe includes the Western Balkans https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1169275/a-united-europe-includes-the-western-balkans/
Anadolu Agency: Analysis, 08/10/2021: EU-Western Balkans Summit and beyond https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-eu-western-balkans-summit-and-beyond/2386507
Emerging Europe: News & Analysis, 08/10/2021: Is the EU losing the Western Balkans? https://emerging-europe.com/news/is-the-eu-losing-the-western-balkans/
Euro|topics, October 2021: Western Balkans in limbo - how much longer? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/269225/
The Economist, 09/10/2021: The European Union should not give up on enlargement https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/10/09/the-european-union-should-not-give-up-on-enlargement

News
Associated Press, 28/09/2021: Albania complains its EU accession bid is being held hostage https://apnews.com/article/business-albania-bulgaria-ursula-von-der-leyen-european-union
EurActiv, 05/10/2021: EU leaders to restate Western Balkans enlargement commitment but without timeline https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-leaders-to-restate-enlargement-commitment-but-envisage-no-timeline/
EUObserver, 05/10/2021: EU sweetens tone of Western Balkans summit https://euobserver.com/world/153117
Reuters, 06/10/2021: EU restates Balkan membership guarantee but won't say for when https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/despite-french-push-eu-leaders-divided-over-common-defence-strategy-2021-10-06/
The Guardian, 06/10/2021: Serbia president lauds Russia ties at EU Balkans summit https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/06/serbia-president-lauds-russia-ties-at-eu-balkans-summit
France24, 06/10/2021: Frustrated Balkans seek reassurance at EU summit https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211006-frustrated-balkans-seek-reassurance-at-eu-summit
RFE/RL, 06/10/2021: EU Leaders Reaffirm Western Balkans' 'European Perspective,' Give No Timeline For Accessions https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-balkans-accession-summit-/31495112.html
EurActiv, 06/10/2021: EU leaders offer words, funds to disillusioned Western Balkans https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-leaders-offer-words-funds-to-disillusioned-western-balkans/
The Irish Times, 06/10/2021: EU flirts with western Balkans despite growing fear of commitment https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-flirts-with-western-balkans-despite-growing-fear-of-commitment-1.4693145
ANSA Agency, 06/10/2021: Frustrated Balkans seek reassurance at EU summit https://www.ansa.it/nuova_europa/en/news/countries/slovenia/2021/10/06/frustrated-balkans-seek-reassurance-at-eu-summit_70c760f9-2a96-4313-8119-7d186c41511e.html
Deutsche Welle, 06/10/2021: EU summit: No firm timeline for Western Balkans accession https://p.dw.com/p/41MEu
BBC News, 06/10/2021: EU indecision ‘jeopardising’ its position in Balkans - Von der Leyen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58804144
Politico, 07/10/2021: EU leaders back ‘enlargement’ for Balkans — just not anytime soon https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-enlargement-balkans/

Official
European Council: Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of their informal meeting and the Western Balkans summit in Slovenia (1 October 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/52186/president-michel-s-invitation-letter-informal-european-council-and-wb.pdf
European Commission: News, 05/10/2021: EU-Western Balkans Summit: Reaffirming the European perspective of the Western Balkans https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/news/eu-western-balkans-summit-reaffirming-european-perspective-western-balkans-2021-10-05_en
General Secretariat of the Council: EU-Western Balkans summit, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, 6 October 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2021/10/06/
General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief for EU-Western Balkans summit, 6 October 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/52204/wb-press-background-brief-final.pdf
General Secretariat of the Council: Brdo Declaration (6 October 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/10/06/brdo-declaration-6-october-2021/
European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel after the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia (6 October 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/10/06/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-the-eu-western-balkans-summit-in-brdo-pri-kranju-slovenia/
European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel and Prime Minister Janša following the EU-Western Balkans Summit (6 October 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_5102
European Council: Oral conclusions drawn by President Charles Michel following the informal meeting of the members of the European Council in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia (6 October 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/10/06/oral-conclusions-drawn-by-president-charles-michel-following-the-informal-meeting-of-the-members-of-the-european-council-in-brdo-pri-kranju-slovenia/
German Federal Government: News, 06/10/2021: EU affirms European prospects for the Western Balkans https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/europa/eu-western-balkans-summit-1965900
Slovenian Government: News, 06/10/2021: Prime Minister Janez Janša: The Western Balkans need the European perspective https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-10-06-prime-minister-janez-jansa-the-western-balkans-need-the-european-perspective/
Finnish Government: Press Release, 06/10/2021: Prime Minister Marin participates in EU-Western Balkans Summit in Slovenia https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/prime-minister-marin-participates-in-eu-western-balkans-summit-in-slovenia

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Record URL https://www.europeansources.info/record/?p=524747