European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit six countries in the Western Balkans next week, including Kosovo, to express her and the Commission’s commitment to engaging in the region’s closer alignment with the European Union.
Von der Leyen, who was re-elected for a new five-year term in the summer, has announced that the enlargement process is one of her top priorities and has appointed a commissioner who will focus solely on the bloc’s expansion.
According to announcements from the European Commission, during her visit to the region, Von der Leyen will mainly focus on the assistance that the EU is providing to the countries in the region to accelerate reforms and preparations for quicker progress in the European integration process.
Von der Leyen will begin her tour in the region on Wednesday, October 23, with her first stop in Albania, where she will meet with President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama. She will also participate in the inauguration of the European College Campus in Tirana.
On October 24, she will travel to North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia, she will visit areas affected by the floods on October 4 and express the EU’s willingness to assist in addressing the consequences.
In Serbia, Von der Leyen will stay on October 25, where she will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
She will then travel to Kosovo on Saturday, October 26, where she will meet with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
She will conclude her visit to the region with a meeting with leaders in Montenegro on Saturday in Podgorica, according to REL.
