Tensions in the Western Balkans are rising, so the bloc's enlargement process must continue. This was the message conveyed by the European Union's foreign policy chief at the start of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
"We see that tensions are rising and we definitely need to move forward with the enlargement process and this is something tangible and we really need success stories."
Kallas did not name the countries where she said tensions are rising, but she recently visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the authorities of Republika Srpska have taken steps towards the entity's possible secession from the rest of Bosnia. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia - which have been in talks to normalise relations since 2011 in Brussels - have also been high since 2023, culminating in the terrorist attack in Banjska. The senior European official also said that the night before she had "a very good dinner with friends" from the Western Balkans.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, who represented Kosovo at this meeting, also held a separate meeting with Kallas. Chief diplomat Gërvalla said in a Facebook post that she had asked Kallas to be treated as an "equal and respected partner in all integration processes."
"The European future of the Western Balkans cannot be complete without Kosovo, and support for our country is support for a more democratic, more equal and more united Europe. Our strong presence and engagement in the region are a source of stability and security for the entire continent."
Kosovo applied for EU membership in December 2022. However, this application has not yet been reviewed by the authorities in Brussels. Kosovo is also the only one in the region that does not have candidate country status. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
