EU Prepares to Assist Western Balkans after Pandemic, too

European Commision

The Collegium of the European Commission (EC) concluded in Brussels, on April 29, that "the Western Balkans will require the European Union's permanent support to find a way out of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 outbreak after the measures to curb the pandemic have been eased," said Vera Jurova, the Commission's vice-president.

Jurova was speaking at a press conference after the Collegium's session discussing relations with the region and preparations for a EU-Western Balkans video conference on May 6.

When asked by a journalist if the video summit might produce a date for Albania and North Macedonia to start membership talks with the EU, Jurova said that she didn't know that, and that the question was for the EU enlargement commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi.

Jurova, who is also the commissioner for transparency and values, went on to say that "the long-term recovery of the Western Balkans will focus on energy and transportation links, as well as challenges for the youth, supporting a transfer to digital and 'green' economy."

The EC Collegium has underlined the necessity of creating more effective economic links between Western Balkans within the region and with the EU, the commissioner said.