Western Balkan leaders reaffirm commitment to EU future
By Erion Xhabafti and Llazar Semini
Golem, Albania (AP) – The leaders of the Western Balkan countries reaffirmed their commitment to a joint European future on Monday, committing to deepening cooperation and accelerating the reforms that would bring the region of the European Union closer.
The presidents of the Nations of the Western Balkans gathered in Golem, Albania, 30 miles west of the capital of Tirana, during an annual rally. It is part of a diplomatic initiative launched by the members of the EU Slovenia and Croatia in 2013 to support the enlargement of the EU to Western Balkans – a region which includes Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
In a joint declaration, the leaders underlined their “shared vision towards the European perspective of our entire region”.
“We reaffirm our commitment to support European integration and inclusive regional cooperation with the objective of a peaceful, strong, stable, prosperous and united Europe,” he said.
The countries work to join the EU, but are at different stages of their membership path, with Montenegro and Albania to come and Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
The opening of the EU to accept new members increased since the total war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. There are concerns that the war in Ukraine and Russia deepen the confrontation with the West could spread in a region still marked by its own conflicts.
Countries have welcomed the role of a growth plan of 6 billion euros aimed at bringing reforms in the region.
But President Slovenian Natasa Pirc Musar also urged Brussels to speed up the process, adding that “security and peace in Europe are at stake”.
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The president of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, arrives in Brdo-Brijuni, meeting of process leaders in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana, Albania on Monday, October 6, 2025.
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The president of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, arrives in Brdo-Brijuni, meeting of process leaders in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana, Albania on Monday, October 6, 2025.
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The annual rally in large part ceremonial was led by Albanian president Bajram Begaj, Pirc Musar and Croatian President Zoran Milanovic. Members of the tripartite presidency of Bosnia and the presidents of Kosovo, Montenegro, northern Macedonia and Serbia also participated.
The initiative was appointed the BRDO -BRIJUNI process after two locations – BRDO PRI KRANJU in Slovenia and the Brijuni Islands in Croatia – which are symbolic of reconciliation and diplomacy.
He seeks to strengthen political dialogue and promote reconciliation after the wars of the 1990s, with tensions that still simmer – for example, between Serbia and Kosovo.
Semini reported to Tirana, Albania.
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