2023-12-12 21:20:46
The EU heads of state and government will meet with their colleagues from the Western Balkan states for the Western Balkans summit in Brussels on the day before the EU summit. The summit is intended to underline the prospect of EU membership for the Western Balkans and the reform steps that are still necessary for this. An important point is the gradual integration into the EU, which is also demanded by Austria. Austria is represented by Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP).
It starts with a large group of top representatives of the EU institutions. The heads of state and government will then continue their discussions over dinner. A joint statement is also planned. According to EU diplomats, this is intended to emphasize the need for reforms on the part of both the Western Balkan partners and the EU. On the eve of the EU summit, where a possible starting signal for accession negotiations with Ukraine is high on the agenda, the importance of enlargement as a “geostrategic investment” should be clearly emphasized.
Increased cooperation on security issues will also be discussed in view of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Western Balkan countries should be asked to take greater action once morest circumvention of the EU’s sanctions once morest Russia. Austria, together with other member states, has repeatedly advocated for the “gradual integration” of the Western Balkan states. This might give them certain advantages of membership, such as admission to the EU internal market or the customs union, even before they are officially admitted to the EU.
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