Costa: Consistency, Trust Main Principles of EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

European Political Community (EPC) summit in Tiran, May 16 2025 (BETAPHOTO/SERBIAN PRESIDENCY/DIMITRIJE GOLL)

European Council President Antonio Costa said in Tirana on May 16 that the European Union enlargement process was gaining new momentum and that further efforts toward the progress of the Western Balkans on their European path should be based on the principles of consistency and trust.

After hosting an informal dinner for the Western Balkan participants of a European Political Community summit and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Costa said the principle of consistency applied to both sides.

Our further efforts toward the Western Balkans joining the European Union should be guided by two fundamental principles: consistency and trust. The consistency of the EU means keeping enlargement at the top of its political agenda, and consistency in partners means aligning with our values and carrying out reforms, Costa said.

He went on to say that trust as the second main principle could only be built through open dialogue -- internally among partners in the region and with EU institutions and member states.

Costa hosted the dinner for Western Balkan leaders together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas at the end of his tour of the region, during which he visited Belgrade, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Pristina, Skopje and Tirana. Along with Costa, Von der Leyen, Kallas and Tusk, the dinner was attended by the presidents of Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro, Aleksandar Vucic, Vjosa Osmani and Jakov Milatovic, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Miskoski, Serb member and chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic, and the hosts -- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj.