Michel: Summit Reiterates Stance For Western Balkans To Continue Reforms

Charles Michel

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated on May 6 that the EU-Western Balkans summit had reiterated the stance that the Union's partners from the region should continue with reforms and that the decision had been made for the starting of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.

Speaking at the joint news conference with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic whose country is currently holding the EU presidency, Michel stated that some very important measures were brought which demonstrate solidarity, and that aid worth EUR3.3 billion was designated for the region.

In the context of European prospects of partners from the Western Balkans, a very important signal and message were sent, that reforms in the rule of law, democratic values and fight against corruption should continue. These topics are important because they bring benefits to the people and contribute to the strengthening of the Union's partnership with the region, Michel told reporters after the summit.

He assessed that it was important that tension in the region was reduced after the signing of the Prespa Agreement between Greece and North Macedonia. Michel added that the Zagreb Declaration was also adopted at the summit, about action at the international level and the European prospects of the Western Balkans.

The video-conference was held instead of the summit in Zagreb that was scheduled for May 6 and 7, but was cancelled because of the corona virus pandemic.