EU Council President Embarks on Western Balkans Tour

The President of the European Council, António Costa, is travelling to the Western Balkans on Monday through May 16, set to head to Skopje on Thursday, and co-host the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana on Friday, CE Report quotes MIA.

Costa is to reaffirm the EU's commitment to the region, and the prospect of the Western Balkan countries' integration in the EU.

"Enhancing cooperation with the Western Balkans is a top political priority for the EU and for me personally," Costa said ahead of the trip to the Western Balkans.

He pointed out that he is visiting the region to discuss with Western Balkan leaders persisting challenges and showcase that the EU stands ready to help.

"There is a clear enlargement momentum; but momentum needs commitment and follow through," Costa stressed.

According to the European Council, Costa will be stressing the importance of building further on the renewed momentum in the enlargement process and the EU- Western Balkans relations.

President Costa will visit the six Western Balkans partners, officially starting in Belgrade on Tuesday. He will be meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Đuro Macut, and Members of the Parliament.

The same day he will head to Sarajevo where he will be addressing the troops of EUFOR Althea and meeting with Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Wednesday, President Costa will arrive in Podgorica where he will meet with Montenegro's President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and other members of the government. He will then visit Pristina to meet President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu.

The next day, May 15, European Council President Costa will head to Skopje to meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.

His final stop in the Western Balkans will be in Tirana, where on May 15 he will meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj and participate in a meeting with students of the College of Europe.

On Friday, President Costa will co-host the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana. The EPC meetings bring together countries on the European continent and provide a platform for deeper political coordination. This summit’s theme is “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action”.

The meeting will focus on security and leaders will share their vision for the future of Europe, followed by three thematic roundtables.