President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, stated ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, held today in Brussels, that the Growth Plan has the potential to bring transformative change to the region.

Welcoming leaders from EU member states and the Western Balkans, Costa highlighted the summit’s importance for three key reasons. He emphasized that all participating nations belong to the European family, sharing a common continent, values, and history.

Costa reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to enlargement, describing it as a vital geopolitical investment in peace, security, and progress.

He noted the ongoing process of gradually integrating the Western Balkan countries into the EU, which is expected to bring concrete benefits for their citizens. These include visa-free travel, reduced roaming charges, and more streamlined, cost-effective payment systems. Costa further stressed that the Growth Plan could play a transformative role in accelerating the region’s development and integration.

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