European Interest, September 20, 2023 In New York, High Representative Josep Borrell Hosted Western Balkan politicians.
Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, conducted an informal discussion with Western Balkans Leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday in New York. This year, all six regional presidents were present. These informal meetings take place on a regular basis as part of the strengthened foreign policy collaboration with Western Balkans allies. They also provide an opportunity to discuss the region’s difficulties and its European destiny.
The conversation centered on the present global geopolitical challenges dominating the UN agenda this week, as well as expansion and plans for progressive integration of partners into the European Union.
High Representative Borrell and Western Balkans leaders discussed ways to address the negative implications of Russia’s assault on Ukraine on food and energy prices, as well as on European and global stability and security. High Representative Borrell emphasized the EU’s support for Western Balkans countries in fully associating the region with its initiatives to mitigate the impact of Russia’s aggression, as well as in addressing other challenges such as energy security, food security, and climate change.
High Representative Borrell emphasized the necessity of close cooperation in multilateral fora. In this connection, he emphasized that the European Union views all candidate nations as reliable partners in foreign, security, and defense policy, including alignment with EU decisions in these areas.
The discussion also provided an opportunity to examine EU membership expectations at a time when EU enlargement policy has received new traction. The High Representative reaffirmed the EU’s sustained strong assistance—political, technical, and financial – for all candidates and potential candidates in order to enable them progress important political, institutional, social, and economic changes required to move forward on their EU path.
The President of Albania Bajram Begaj, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić participated in the meeting.
