European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived on Saturday in Kosovo as part of a trip to aspiring EU member states in the Western Balkans to assure them that EU enlargement remains a priority for the 27-nation bloc.
During her visit to Pristina, von der Leyen met with the country’s President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
“It’s very important that we work together hand in hand,” she told reporters during a briefing alongside Osmani after the pair’s meeting.
“For me, it’s important to look at Kosovo, our partner, and to describe and make possible the path into the European Union. This is our common project we have, we are totally committed to that one and you can count on me what that is concerned,” she added.
The Western Balkan countries — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — are at different stages in their applications for EU membership.
The countries have been frustrated by the slow pace of the process, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has propelled European leaders to push the six to join the bloc.
“We see that Russia is leading hybrid attacks against democracies, and the aim is to destabilise these democracies,” von der Leyen said during the briefing.
“But we have tools, we work with transparency, we can debunk the misinformation, we can unveil the propaganda and that’s what we are doing on a daily basis to the benefit of a whole region.”
Last year EU officials offered a 6-billion-euro (about $6.5 billion) growth plan to the Western Balkan countries in an effort to double the region’s economy over the next decade and accelerate their efforts to join the bloc.
That aid is contingent on reforms that would bring their economies in line with EU rules.
The Commission on Wednesday approved the reform agendas of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia following a green light from EU member states.
That was a key step to allow payments under the growth plan upon completion of agreed reform steps.
EU’s Von Der Leyen Visits Kosovo, Condemns Russia’s Attempts to ‘Destabilize’ Democracies world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World Breaking Headlines Today
