TIRANA, March 17 – European Council President Antonio Costa told the European Newsroom (ENR) that enlargement remains a top priority for the Western Balkans. He emphasized that the EU is working intensively to advance the process as quickly as possible.

Costa said the Western Balkans, alongside Ukraine and Moldova, are central to the EU’s agenda. “Even yesterday, I met with the current president of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the prime minister of Montenegro. We work closely with all leaders to move this enlargement forward. Tomorrow, we have a new Intergovernmental Conference with Montenegro,” he said.

Commenting on proposals from some regional leaders, including Albania and Serbia, to join the EU without veto rights, Costa stressed that any enlargement must follow merit-based rules. He added that candidate countries must implement extensive reforms to meet all Copenhagen criteria. “We need to combine a sense of urgency with strict adherence to standards. This enlargement is challenging for all candidates,” he noted.

Costa also highlighted the need for internal EU reforms and creative management of the accession process. He said the EU will likely introduce transitional clauses, similar to those in previous enlargements, to ensure smooth integration. “I rely on full cooperation from all 27 member states and eight candidate countries. Our goal is fast but credible enlargement, based on merit and shared responsibility,” he added.

The European Council president reaffirmed that the EU seeks a balance between speed and adherence to democratic, economic, and legal standards. He concluded that Western Balkans enlargement remains a strategic priority, with strong political commitment from Brussels and regional capitals.

/a.p./