TIRANA, Nov 21 /ATA/ EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated today that all Western Balkan countries belong to the EU and must become fully fledged member states.
In her remarks at the joint press conference alongside Prime Minister Edi Rama following the “Growth Plan – Our Pathway to the EU” Summit, Commissioner Kos emphasized that the summit featured open discussions on ways to accelerate the implementation of the Growth Plan and how this process could be transformed into a success story for the citizens of the Western Balkans.
“Today, we engaged in open discussions on how to expedite the implementation of the Growth Plan and ensure it becomes a success story that benefits all citizens of the Western Balkans,” stated Commissioner Kos.
She stressed the importance of expanding the EU enlargement framework to encompass the region’s countries across a broader spectrum of policy domains.
“We also discussed the need to broaden the very concept of enlargement. Enlargement is much more than mere accession; above all, it is about integrating all of you as swiftly as possible across an ever-widening range of EU policy areas—not only in the EU Single Market but also in our energy market and pan-European value chains,” stated Kos.
Kos added that last week alone the College approved democracy protection and civil society strategy, treating candidate and member states on equal footing
Kos stated that the EU will go further by including the Western Balkan countries in efforts to safeguard democracy and uphold EU values.
“We want the EU to become a tangible reality in your countries today, bringing prosperity, security, and stability for all of us,” Kos affirmed.
Kos emphasised that in specific sectors, “this is already becoming a reality, with Albanians, Montenegrins, and North Macedonians benefiting reduced transaction costs through SEPA.
Kos continued by stating: “Our objective is for all of you, the Western Balkan countries, to progress in synchrony. We do not want to create further gaps among your six nations, because ultimately, all Western Balkan countries belong to the EU and must become fully fledged member states. This would be a well-deserved reward for complete alignment with EU legislation and, even more importantly, with EU values. Therefore, today we should focus on ways to accelerate work on the second phase.”
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