European Council President Visiting Western Balkans Next Week

Antonio Costa (BETAPHOTO/HINA/DAMIR SENCAR)

President of the European Council Antonio Costa will pay a visit to the Western Balkans next week, during which he will meet with leaders in the region and discuss the possibilities and challenges of the EU enlargement, gradual integration, regional cooperation, security and stability, and co-chair the EU – Western Balkan Summit in Tivat on June 5.

“My second tour of the Western Balkans sends a clear message: EU’s commitment to the region in real; as real as the enlargement opportunity. The incentive exists. Now is the time to deliver the results,” Costa stated ahead of the visit to the Western Balkans from June 1 to 5, the European Commission has stated.

The first stop on his Western Balkan tour will be Sarajevo, where he is to meet on June 1 with the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Becirovic, Zeljka Cvijanovic and Zeljko Komsic, and President of the Council of Ministers Borjana Kristo. On June 2, he is to visit Tirana and meet with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, President Bajram Begaj and the students of the Europe College campus in Tirana. He will then visit Skopje and meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.

Costa is then to travel to Pristina on June 3 and meet with acting president Albulen Haxhiu, outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti and presidents of opposition parties. Next, on June 4, he will meet in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic and civil society organizations. In the evening of June 4, Costa is to attend a dinner in Tivat, hosted by Montenegrin Prime Minister Jakov Milanovic for the leaders of the region, on the occasion of 20 years since the revival of Montenegro’s independence. On Friday, June 5, Costa is to co-chair the EU – Western Balkans Summit, with the central topic “Joint Prosperity and Stability of EU and Western Balkans,” the European Commission has stated.