Joint Statement
1. Almost two decades after the historic Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs/representatives of the Hellenic Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia and the Western Balkans partners, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo*, in the presence of Croatia, current EU Presidency, the European Commission and the European External Action Service, met today, on February 24th, in Thessaloniki, to declare, once again, our common objective for a peaceful, strong, stable and united Europe through the full integration of the Western Balkans in the European Union. We are deeply convinced that only full integration of the whole region into the European Union serves the best interest of Europe.
2. The Enlargement Policy has been one of the most successful EU policies; it has contributed significantly to the Union’s role as a regional and global power. Keeping enlargement at the top of the EU agenda is of paramount importance; recalling the Final Declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 2000, the Thessaloniki Summit Agenda of 2003 and the Sofia EU-Western Balkans Summit Declaration and Sofia Priority Agenda of 2018, and building on the efforts of previous EU Council Presidencies, we reiterate our firm belief that the unification of Europe cannot be completed without the Western Balkans.
3. We recognize that the EU Membership perspective has proved to be the most powerful incentive for the necessary internal reforms as well as the best means to guarantee peace, stability, security and prosperity in the long term for the whole Western Balkans region. It also provides strong impetus for the full transformation of the region and the consolidation of democracy through advancing the necessary reforms especially in the areas of the Rule of Law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, good governance, as well as the protection of human rights, including rights of persons belonging to minorities and property rights.
4. We reiterate our full support to the efforts aiming at strengthening good-neighborly relations, in accordance with international law and EU requirements including those falling under the Stabilization and Association Process, as well as promoting reconciliation, regional stability and inclusive regional cooperation in the Western Balkan region.
5. It is essential for the EU to offer credible enlargement perspective and for the Western Balkans to speed up all the necessary reforms in their EU- agendas, based on strict and fair conditionality and the principle of own merits.
6. We express the expectation that in line with the European Commission recommendations, the EU will decide to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia before the Zagreb Summit of May 2020, preferably in March.
7. To this end we take note of the recently published Communication of the European Commission on “Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans” which reaffirms the EU’s commitment to the Enlargement Policy, making it more credible, effective and dynamic, while maintaining its fundamental values and objectives.
8. We welcome the overall progress made by Montenegro and Serbia in their accession negotiations and we encourage them to step up their reform efforts; we believe they have the potential to advance faster in their respective European paths. We look forward to Bosnia and Herzegovina implementing the key reforms identified in the 2019 Opinion by the European Commission which is a comprehensive roadmap for BiH European path. While recognizing the importance of visa liberalization for its citizens, we hope that Kosovo* will make good progress in its European Reform Agenda.
9. Regional cooperation has advanced over the years; it is now crucial that commitments taken in this framework are implemented in the interest of citizens and economies of the Western Balkans. Reconciliation and good neighborhood relations remain an important element for the future of the region: in this respect the comprehensive normalization of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina needs to become a reality in the near future.
10. We recognize that the acceleration of the reform process for all Western Balkans partners would require swift merit-based funding mechanisms. In this regard, we will focus our efforts, within the EU, in streamlining the proper means, mainly through the effective use of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) funds as well as through the use of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) as a successful blending platform.
11. Additionally, the possibility shall be explored for the Western Balkans partners to take advantage of EU policies, including the provisions of the new Enlargement methodology, with a view to a smooth EU integration. We stand ready to offer them technical assistance.
12. We underline our valuable cooperation in further regional schemes such as the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, which provide an additional tool to assist the Western Balkans on their path towards the EU.
13. In the run up to the Zagreb EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2020, the neighboring EU Member-States, together with their Western Balkans partners, recognize the importance of actively promoting a market and investment-friendly economy in the Western Balkans in order to move faster towards a digital economy and to sustainable and climate-friendly societies in line with the Paris Agreement, and developing modern networks and infrastructures, in order to obtain transport, energy and digital connectivity within the region and beyond. Energy security should be prioritized including diversification of sources and routes. Special emphasis should be put towards creating further opportunities for the Youth. Cooperation of all parties involved in order to increase the ownership of the projects is essential for the efficient transformation of the Western Balkans region.
14. In view of the upcoming European Council in March 2020, we agree to stay in close contact and coordinate our actions.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
February 24, 2020