TIRANA, June 3 – European Council President Antonio Costa continues his Western Balkans tour this Wednesday with a visit to Prishtina. He arrives after stops in Sarajevo and Tirana. In Kosova, he will meet Acting President Albulena Haxhiu, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and opposition leaders.

Costa visited Albania a day earlier. Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj received him in Tirana. He praised Albania’s progress in the European Union integration process. He also highlighted the country’s reform momentum toward membership. In addition, he referred to recent progress in accession talks, including the 8th Intergovernmental Conference between the EU and Albania. The meeting confirmed the fulfilment of interim benchmarks for Cluster 1, “Fundamentals”.

Costa will travel on Thursday to Belgrade. He will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabic. Later, he will continue to Montenegro. President Jakov Milatovic will host a formal dinner in Tivat. The event will mark 20 years since the restoration of Montenegro’s independence.

The EU–Western Balkans Summit will take place on 5 June in Tivat (Montenegro) with the topic “Shared prosperity and stability between the EU and the Western Balkans”. Organisers will issue a joint press statement after the sessions. Costa will co-chair the closing press conference. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic will join him.

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