Balkan Leaders Urge Brussels to Act Faster in Processing EU Integration

Western Balkan leaders on Thursday called on the European Union to speed up the process of their countries’ integration to the bloc.

The prime ministers of Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina—all of which are at different stages on the journey toward EU membership—gathered in the Albanian capital, Tirana, on Thursday to discuss their ascension to the EU.

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski pressed the EU to act faster: “The European Union could, and I believe in the future can, be more focused and can help to resolve on those issues [accession procedures], because postponing and postponing is not a solution. It’s just creating problems; it’s creating new issues; it’s creating uncertainties; and it is a real damage for us [Macedonia] and for the region too.”

The leaders urged Brussels to invest in their joint projects, and they expressed concern for the enlargement fatigue some EU member countries are experiencing.