Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, has announced the start of a six-day visit to the Western Balkans region.
During this visit, he will travel to Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He noted that Albania will be visited at a later stage, when Belgium plans to officially open its embassy in Tirana.
“The engagement with the Western Balkans is strategic for the security and stability of our continent. The Western Balkans is not at the doorstep of Europe — it is in Europe. Their security is our security, their stability is our stability,” he stated.
He emphasized that several countries in the region have been waiting for more than two decades to join the European Union, underlining the importance of maintaining a credible path toward integration. However, he stressed that the process remains merit-based, requiring reforms in the rule of law, the judiciary, anti-corruption efforts, and regional reconciliation.
Belgium, he added, remains a committed partner in the region, both politically and economically, and aims to further strengthen its partnerships through this visit.
