The Commissioner for Kosovo participated in the summit of Western Balkan leaders in Tirana.
TIRANA – EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, assessed that the entire Western Balkans belongs to the European Union on an equal basis, with full rights. She stated this at the opening of the Summit of Western Balkan and EU leaders taking place today in Tirana, which is also attended by the Prime Minister of Serbia, Đuro Macut. “Our ambition is for all of you to progress in harmony, so we do not want any of you to lag behind, because ultimately, the entire Western Balkans belongs to the European Union, as equal members – with full rights, as recognition for full alignment with EU laws and values,” said Kos, adding that the focus should be on how to accelerate reforms.
Speaking about the Growth Plan, she emphasized that it is crucial to establish economic alignment of the Western Balkans with EU countries. “We know from experience that as a candidate country approaches EU accession, more tourists come, media presence in the EU increases, and curiosity among citizens of member states grows. Let us use the remaining two years (of the Growth Plan) to make the Growth Plan a great success and prepare the ground for your EU accession, as the main goal of the Growth Plan is to help you develop so that you can become an equal member of the European Union in the future,” Kos told the leaders of the Western Balkans. She noted that the Growth Plan has brought a new dynamic to the integrations and added that the Western Balkans is already part of Europe, and it remains to be institutionally confirmed. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated in his opening address that the Western Balkans is important as it has decided to move forward together, with the Growth Plan as a common roadmap, but, as he says, not only towards Brussels, but towards the freedoms and opportunities of a unique European market.
Rama assessed that the Western Balkans has never experienced reforms of this level of transformation and stated that the region strives to grow with Europe, not at its expense, proving daily that it belongs to the EU. (November 21)
