Western Balkans countries “belong in the European Union”, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed on Wednesday, without mentioning when the six counties might become member states.
Von der Leyen made the comment on Twitter following a EU-Western Balkans summit, held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a declaration released after the summit, the 27 leaders of the EU member states reiterated their “strong solidarity” with Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia “in the context of the coronavirus”.
They emphasised that the “EU has mobilised very swiftly a package of over €3.3 billion to the benefit of the Western Balkans” to help the six countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic” and stressed that “this support and cooperation goes far beyond what any other partner has provided to the region deserves public acknowledgement.”
The money includes immediate support to the health sector through the delivery of essential supplies as well as support for the social and economic recovery including a €1.7 billion package of assistance from the European investment Bank.