19 September 2024 – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, hosted a working lunch in Brussels with the leaders of the six Western Balkan partners. The meeting focused on reviewing progress on the €6 billion Growth Plan aimed at bringing the economies and markets of the Western Balkans closer to the European Union. Attendees included Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo; Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro; Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia; and Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia.

Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, accompanied President von der Leyen and Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi at the meeting. Koopman described the gathering as “a great moment to review progress on the Growth Plan and discuss the reforms which will unlock €6 billion from the Reform & Growth Facility.”

President von der Leyen reaffirmed the European aspirations of the Western Balkan partners, stating: “All six countries belong in Europe. This is what we are working on.” She emphasised the EU’s commitment to integrating the region both economically and politically. The €6 billion Growth Plan is designed to foster economic development, support reforms, accelerate the integration of Western Balkan economies with the EU market and boost the region’s economic integration through the Common Regional Market.

The plan significantly incentivises the Western Balkan partners to accelerate reforms through gradual integration,  making them one step closer to EU membership.