President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is visiting the Western Balkans this week, reaffirming the European Union’s strong commitment to the region’s EU path and to the implementation of the €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Her visit includes stops in Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia — each underlining a key aspect of closer political and economic integration with the EU.

In Tirana, the President addressed the EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum, celebrating tangible progress in bringing the region closer to the EU’s Single Market. “The people and companies of the Western Balkans are already starting to experience the European Union in their daily lives,” she said, highlighting the latest milestone — the inclusion of Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). This change now allows money transfers between these countries and the EU to be faster, safer, and free of extra fees. The reform, she noted, will save Western Balkan businesses an estimated €500 million annually.

In Tivat, Montenegro, von der Leyen praised the country’s role as a frontrunner in the accession process, commending its progress in judicial reforms and digital transition. She announced the first disbursement of €8 million under the EU’s Reform and Growth Facility, encouraging Montenegro to continue on its reform path to unlock the full package of over €380 million in EU support.

The President also pointed to tangible benefits already taking shape — from forthcoming zero roaming charges between the EU and the region to a growing number of joint investments in clean energy, innovation, and sustainable tourism.

“The Western Balkans are firmly on their way to becoming part of the European Union,” von der Leyen said. “Every step taken towards integration brings new opportunities — for investment, for growth, and for our shared European future.”

Following her stops in Albania and Montenegro, President von der Leyen will continue her tour in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she will visit the Srebrenica Memorial and meet with state leaders, before travelling to Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia to conclude her visit later this week.