President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, at the EU–Western Balkans Summit, declared that Europe will not be complete without the countries of the Western Balkans.
She emphasized that the region holds an important place in the history and future of the European Union, underlining that enlargement remains one of the bloc’s strategic priorities.
According to her, the EU aims to accelerate the accession process, making it more visible and more effective for the aspirant countries.
“Tivat and the Western Balkans are at the heart of the history of the European Union and your country is in the heart of Europe. Today we are taking big steps to build a more independent, safer, more sustainable and more complete European Union. But Europe will not be complete without the Western Balkans. That is precisely why this summit is so important. We will discuss how to make the enlargement process faster, more visible and more strategic. I want to tell the Western Balkans and our hosts that there is momentum. Let us turn this momentum into movement and then this movement into membership,” von der Leyen said, among other things.
