The new President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is set to convene the leaders of the six Western Balkan countries next week.
Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, received an invitation to the meeting on November 9 but will be unable to attend due to her busy schedule and a state visit to Brunei. However, it has been agreed that the invitation will be delegated to other institutions in Kosovo.
Bekim Kupina, President Osmani’s media advisor, confirmed this to RTKlive.
“On November 5, 2024, President Osmani received an invitation from the President of the European Council, Mr. Antonio Costa, to attend a dinner hosted for Western Balkan leaders on December 3 in Brussels. Due to a pre-scheduled international agenda and a confirmed state visit to Brunei at the invitation of the Sultan of Brunei from December 2-3, 2024, President Osmani’s cabinet informed President Costa’s office of her inability to attend this time. Consequently, it was agreed that the invitation would be delegated to other institutions in Kosovo,” said Kupina.
According to him, President Osmani will represent Kosovo at the EU-Western Balkans Summit on December 18 (an invitation already sent and confirmed). To ensure thorough preparations and coordination for the summit, President Osmani has agreed with EU institutions to visit Brussels on December 4. She will travel directly from Brunei to meet with President Costa and other EU representatives to discuss expectations for the upcoming summit.
Separately, the new College of the European Commission has been confirmed by the European Parliament. With the conclusion of the necessary procedures, the new mandate of the EU executive formally begins on Sunday, December 1.
Starting next Monday, the institutions based in Brussels will be represented by new faces.
