Tirana, Albania
Around 160 participants, including ministers and senior representatives from across the Western Balkans, the Council of Europe, European Union Delegations and the European Commission, gathered in Tirana to mark ten years of partnership between the European Union and the Council of Europe in the Western Balkans, as well as the closing of Phase III of the Horizontal Facility.
Since its launch, the joint programme has supported Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye in advancing reforms in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Participants from the European Union, the Council of Europe and ministries from all participating countries also underlined the importance of and appreciation for the partnership, highlighting the added value of the Horizontal Facility in supporting reform efforts across the region.
Opening the event, Christophe Galand, Deputy Director for Western Balkans at DG ENEST, underlined the impact of the partnership and its close link to the EU accession process, noting that “this partnership has made a difference for institutions, professionals and the people they serve” and that stronger democratic institutions, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights “are at the heart of progress towards membership”.
H.E. Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa also addressed participants, highlighting the importance of ensuring that reforms supported by the Horizontal Facility lead to actual change, noting that “reform efforts must lead to actual change. Reforms cannot remain only on paper and must be properly implemented. What matters is that institutions function independently and effectively; that democratic checks and balances are real and robust; and that fundamental rights are genuinely respected and protected in practice, for everyone. And this is what citizens are expecting from us.”
The discussions also looked at the challenges ahead and the priorities for the next phase. Phase IV of the Horizontal Facility will begin in 2027 and run for three years, continuing to support partners in advancing key reforms. The closing event reaffirmed the importance of EU–Council of Europe cooperation in strengthening the fundamentals of the enlargement process and supporting the Western Balkans on their path towards the EU.
