European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embarking on a four-day trip to the Western Balkans to meet with the leaders of six countries in the region. The purpose of the trip is to discuss the progress these countries have made towards joining the European Union.
During her visit, President von der Leyen will meet with leaders from Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. These countries are all candidates or potential candidates for EU membership and are actively seeking to join the bloc.
The European Commission has been actively working with these countries to help them meet the criteria for EU membership, including political, economic, and legal reforms. The Western Balkans region is seen as strategically important for the EU, both in terms of security and stability and as a potential market for European goods and services.
The EU has been working to strengthen ties with the Western Balkans in recent years, with the hope of eventually integrating these countries into the European Union. President von der Leyen’s visit is seen as an important step in this process, as it allows for direct engagement with the leaders of these countries to assess their progress and discuss next steps.
Overall, President von der Leyen’s trip to the Western Balkans is an important opportunity to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the region and to discuss the path forward for these countries on their journey to EU membership.
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