Amid pandemic, EU seeks to secure Western Balkans for European future
EU leaders will try to secure the Western Balkans for their European future and show them they have not forgotten them during the novel coronavirus crisis.
This virtual European Union summit with representatives of the six Balkan countries was initially scheduled to take place in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, which holds the current presidency of the European Union.
The virus, which has caused more than 250 deaths worldwide and has hit Europe hard, is on the agenda of a summit, which will initially focus on the aspirations of the six Balkan countries for EU membership.
With fewer than 500 deaths, the 18 million inhabitants of the Western Balkans have for the time being avoided an explosive Italian scenario.
But European leaders are seeking to ensure their support for this region of Europe, where medical professionals are migrating en masse, at a time when the pandemic has hit the bloc's economy and strengthened borders.
Brussels announced aid of more than 3,3 billion euros to help the Western Balkans fight against COVID-19 and recover their economies.
– “The future is in the EU” –
Since then, Europeans have been committed to confirming the continuous health assistance injected for 20 years in the Western Balkans and the specific aid intended for the fight against coronavirus.
"This aid confirms the strong solidarity of Brussels," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
"We have a special responsibility to help our Western Balkan partners because their future is clearly in the EU," she added.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia are at different stages of the European procedure.
In the main package, Serbia and Montenegro opened accession negotiations years ago. Bosnia and Kosovo do not yet have candidate status.
In March, after numerous postponements, Brussels gave the green light to the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
"The summit will demonstrate the EU's commitment to the European prospects of the Western Balkans," a diplomatic source in Brussels said.
"Candidates will also be reminded of the reforms they will have to implement," the source adds.
