EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi will attend the Open Balkan meeting expected to be held in Ohrid this Wednesday, June 8th.
The European Commission has issued a statement stating what Varhelyi has stated before the Summit, that the benefits of the 30 billion euro investment can only be fully realized once the six Western Balkan countries are part of the initiative.

“I welcome the renewed impetus from the leaders in the Western Balkans to advance in regional integration. The war Russia has waged in Europe is a wake-up call for the need to accelerate the EU membership process, a geostrategic investment in the stability and security of all of Europe.

Comprehensive regional co-operation, based on EU rules, is key to bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU single market, which is at the heart of our common prosperity.

The rapid construction of the Regional Common Market agreed by the six countries of the Western Balkans is essential to this.

“But also, let us be clear, the full potential of our ambitious economic and investment plan of 30 billion euros to support the Western Balkans will be yielded only when all six Balkan countries are part of the initiative,” he said.

The European Commission also underlines that during his visit in Ohrid, Commissioner Várhelyi will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the Western Balkans, more in connection with the EU Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

/Klara Ruci/