EU reaffirms commitment to Western Balkans’ EU membership in Brussels Declaration

In the Brussels Declaration just recently adopted at the EU-Western Balkans summit, the European Union reaffirmed the European perspective of the region's countries and said that it meets its interests.

“The future of the Western Balkans is in our union. We reaffirm once again our full and unequivocal commitment to the perspective of the Western Balkans' membership in the European Union,” the declaration reads, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The document also says that further EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment in the world and that accelerating the accession process is in the common interest.

Notably, the "Brussels Declaration" was adopted during the EU-Western Balkans Summit held on December 18, 2024, in Brussels. This declaration underscores the EU's commitment to the region's integration and outlines several key initiatives:

The EU welcomed the fact that people from the entire Western Balkans region are now able to travel to the EU visa-free.

The declaration emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic ties between the EU and the Western Balkans, focusing on areas such as trade, investment, and infrastructure development. It highlights the need for the Western Balkans to align more closely with EU policies and standards, particularly in areas like governance, rule of law, and human rights.

The document addresses the necessity for enhanced cooperation in security matters, including countering disinformation and hybrid threats, to ensure regional stability.

The Western Balkans—a region encompassing Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—have long aspired to join the European Union (EU). 

By Khagan Isayev