EU in Favor of Overcoming Enlargement Difficulties, No Special Path Envisioned

Josep Borrell (BetaPhoto / European Council / Zucchi-Enzo)

The European Union wants to overcome the difficulties in enlargement to the Western Balkans and the same conclusion was reached at the recent EU-Western Balkans Summit, Josep Borell, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy said in Luxembourg on Oct. 18. Borell added that there has been no talk of any special path for surmounting the difficulties in question.

The statement was issued last night, after the Union’s Foreign Affairs Council concluded its most recent session. During the meeting, the foreign ministers of EU member countries discussed enlargement to the Western Balkans and relations with the region, where, Borell stressed, “a very difficult situation at the boundary between Serbia and Kosovo” has recently arisen.

Borell further emphasized that, in the wake of the Sept. 30 agreement reached by Belgrade and Pristina to deescalate the tensions, the only way to resolve disputes is through a dialogue mediated by the EU.

Regarding EU enlargement to the region, Borell explained that the topic was discussed during the recent EU-Western Balkans Summit, where it was concluded that “there exist certain difficulties of which the European Union is well aware,” but that the EU wants to “overcome those difficulties”. Borell added that he knew nothing of the special path for this process which has been mentioned by the media.