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Representatives of the EU member states, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as representatives of the central banks of the Western Balkans and Turkey met for their annual economic policy dialogue. The dialogue aims at preparing the Western Balkans and Turkey for their future participation in the European Semester.

The participants of the dialogue approved conclusions covering

Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo*
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Turkey

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

The dialogue will continue in 2023, including on the implementation of these conclusions.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have confronted EU Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey with major public health, economic and social challenges. Participants agreed that the economic policy dialogue is of high importance in view of a common interest to define appropriate policy responses to the recent adverse shocks. Participants emphasised the strong common position by the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey in deploring in the strongest terms the military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In view of high uncertainty about potential further pandemic effects and the impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, participants considered it appropriate to stand ready to mitigate, if needed, adverse impacts on growth, employment and social cohesion by adequately targeted, temporary and transparent fiscal and financial measures until a self-sustained recovery is firmly established.

Read the full text of the conclusions:

Western Balkans and Turkey: Joint conclusions of the economic and financial dialogue of 24 May 2022