The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that he expects Bosnia and Herzegovina to be on the agenda again during the next meetings of the Council of the EU, where the expansion of the Union will be discussed.
In his address during the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, he said that it is time to clarify all ambiguities and to face the challenges honestly and clearly when it comes to EU expansion in the Western Balkans.
Michel reminded that the European perspective of the Western Balkans was confirmed in Thessaloniki in 2003, noting that Europe must keep its promises.
“The path of the Western Balkans towards the EU began more than 20 years ago. The region in the heart of Europe, surrounded by the Union, which came out of the conflict after the breakup of Yugoslavia. At the summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, the European perspective of the Western Balkans was confirmed, but the progress of this process disappointed many, both in the region and in the EU. I agree with German chancellor Olaf Scholz when he says that Europe must keep its promises,” said Michel.
According to him, the enlargement of the Union “is no longer a dream” and it is time to move forward, but there is still a lot of work to be done and the road will be difficult and sometimes painful, both for future EU members and for the bloc itself.
Michel expressed his belief that the Union must be ready for enlargement by 2030.
He told his “friends in the Western Balkans” that he wishes them success in realizing the European aspirations that they have clearly presented.
Michel pointed out that EU membership is both a benefit and an obligation at the same time, and that it depends on “merit”, among which are the implementation of reforms, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and the fight against corruption and organized crime.
According to him, it is also necessary to find solutions for bilateral conflicts, and solving them can be more difficult than implementing reforms.
Michel emphasized that the region’s joining the Union would be “a great proof of collective success” and that in an ideal scenario, all the countries of the Balkans would join the EU together, but future members of the bloc are in “different stages of their European journey”.
He added that the EU is strengthening its support for the Western Balkans, so that the countries of the region can face all the challenges they face.
