European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will begin a tour of the Western Balkans next week, visiting Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia between September 30 and October 2.
Her first stop will be Albania on Wednesday, September 30, where she is scheduled to meet President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama.
On Thursday, October 1, von der Leyen will travel to Kosovo, where she is expected to meet Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
The European Commission has not yet detailed the specific issues that will be discussed during the meetings. The Commission said the tour will focus on the partners’ EU accession paths, progress toward gradual integration and projects supported through the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Following her visit to Kosovo, von der Leyen will travel to Montenegro and then North Macedonia, where she will meet political leaders and visit EU-funded projects.
The European Commission confirmed that Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be included in this tour because of upcoming parliamentary and general elections in the two countries. Von der Leyen is expected to visit both countries at a later date.
The upcoming trip will mark von der Leyen’s sixth consecutive year visiting the Western Balkans. The Commission has said her regional visits reflect the EU’s continued engagement with the Western Balkans and its commitment to the region’s European integration process.
