The European Union (EU) plans to help the countries of the Western Balkans to achieve the reforms necessary for integration into the European bloc with an investment of six billion euros, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday during her visit to Skopje.
“Northern Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina should use this opportunity to expand into the EU and work to harmonize their standards with the standards of the European bloc,” said the president of the European Commission, adding that the opening of the common markets in the Western Balkans, which has the potential to increase GDP by 10 percent.
“We need reforms for the business community, efficient public administration, and it is crucial to continue reforms in the judiciary and the fight against corruption,” von der Leyen said.
Today, the President of the European Commission will arrive in Pristina from Skopje, as part of a four-day visit to the Western Balkans.
As announced by the Kosovo Government, he will meet with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani at 1:15 pm and with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti at 2:40 pm.
Von der Leyen will be in Podgorica on Tuesday, where he will talk with the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović and Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović.
Serbian Radio and Television reports that he will also visit Belgrade, where he will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.
On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will talk to the members of the BiH Presidency and the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, in Sarajevo, Fena reports.
