A Western Balkans Roundtable was held in Brussels. It brought together representatives of the American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham) from the region, as well as senior officials from the European Commission and CEFTA.

The discussion focused on advancing a multilateral dialogue on EU integration. In particular, participants stressed the need to align reform priorities, boost economic integration, and approximate EU acquis.

AmCham Albania was represented by Executive Director Neritan Mullaj. He highlighted the need for Western Balkan countries to clearly define priorities to accelerate EU integration. He also stressed the importance of designing and implementing sustainable policies to support this process.

In addition, Legal Committee Chair Albana Karapanco and Marin Gjonaj took part in the roundtable. They emphasized the role businesses can play by sharing practical experience on how EU regulations affect operations and investments.

Participants also underlined the importance of facilitating trade procedures. They called for reducing non-tariff barriers and addressing key regulatory issues.

Meanwhile, energy market development and its integration into the EU market emerged as another key topic. Gjonaj pointed to the importance of managing CBAM rules, known as the carbon border tax, especially for renewable energy exports from the Western Balkans to EU countries.

Overall, the roundtable delivered a clear message. Strong cooperation between the region and the European Union is essential. Moreover, shared priorities and institutional coordination are key to advancing the Western Balkans toward EU membership.