European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has started a four-day trip to the Western Balkans, where she will meet the leaders of Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, of Kosovo and Montenegro to discuss their progress towards EU membership. .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to arrive in Serbia on Thursday evening as part of a tour of the Balkans to promote EU enlargement.
This news comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss Serbia’s progress on EU membership, highlighting Serbia’s importance to the EU and its potential to economic cooperation.
Von der Leyen’s expected visit to Serbia comes only a day after his visits to Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
During his stay in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, von der Leyen said the country had made “great progress in implementing the reforms” needed to join the EU.
The head of the European Commission said the EU was “committed to its enlargement plans, and this will be the Union’s top priority”.
North Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004 and was granted candidate status in 2005. However, its path to the EU has stalled due to vetoes from neighboring Greece and Bulgaria.
Von der Leyen also visited the village of Donja Jablanica in central Bosnia on Thursday after it was devastated by recent floods and landslides.
The natural disaster left 27 dead and the village was buried under rubble.
Bosnia has requested EU assistance and many member states have sent teams to help through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
“Europe is at your side, and we are here not only in the short term but also in the medium and long term, to help you first, of course immediately, but then to rebuild and rebuild after the disaster,” said von der Leyen.