Western Balkans: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell upon arrival at the EU-Western Balkans informal meeting

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Good evening,

Today is another step on the European perspective for the Balkan countries. We are going to talk about it also tomorrow at the Foreign Affairs Council.

I am coming from Munich where I had the opportunity of meeting all the Heads of State or Government of the Balkan countries. I have been flying in the plane with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia and I learnt that they have [taken] a new important step on the reforms, about the law of the public prosecutor, which shows their will of doing anything they have to do in order to have a European perspective. So we are going to work today and tomorrow for the next European Council to open the door to the European perspective of the Balkan countries.

Q. Are you going to propose tomorrow a Special Representative for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia?

Not yet tomorrow. It requires a certain preparation. We have to prepare the mandate, all the papers… I don’t think it is going to be possible tomorrow, but in any case for the next [Foreign Affairs] Council.

Q. Do you expect that any of the countries of the Western Balkans can become a member of the EU before the end of your mandate?

I hope so.

Thank you.

Europa.ba