Blinken: U.S. Appreciates EU's Support to European Perspective of Western Balkans

Borrel, Blinken (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has in a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in Washington, expressed appreciation for the EU's lasting and unambiguous support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans, the U.S. Department of State said in a press release late on Oct. 14.

"The Secretary expressed appreciation for the EU’s continuing unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans and commitment to the enlargement process, and he emphasized the need to move forward on accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia," said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. 

At the meeting with Borrell, Blinken "reaffirmed the enduring importance of the U.S.-EU partnership and the United States’ commitment to work together with the EU to confront shared challenges."

Blinken and Borrell stressed the intention of launching a dialogue on security and defense, as agreed at the U.S.-EU Summit in June, and tasked their teams with exploring the scope and modalities of such a dialogue, said Ned Price.

The European External Action Service on its part stated that the officials highlighted the importance of the EU-mediated dialogue in resolving issues related to the comprehensive normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and, in light of the latest events, pointed out the need for de-escalation and re-engagement in negotiations.