Berlin summit reassures EU perspective

With new entrants off EU agenda for next few years, summit aims to keep Western Balkans focused, speed up reforms, grow economies.
TIRANA, Sept. 3 – A high-level summit held in Berlin last week aimed to reassure Western Balkan states that their EU perspective remains clear, despite EU’s decision to rule out any new entrants in the next five years.
Organized on the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the summit aimed to set a process in place for annual meetings of its type with the leaders of Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro – represented by their prime ministers as well as the ministers of foreign affairs and the economy.
Albanian Prime Edi Rama said the summit marked a historic moment that brought together leaders of the Balkans on behalf of a better future for the region.
The conference was an attempt to give a boost to the European integration process in the region through faster economic development. In addition to the six Western Balkan leaders, representatives of Croatia and Slovenia were also present – as regional countries that are already members of the EU. European Union was represented by outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.
Chancellor Merkel said the conference aims to start a process that will continue for at least another four years.
“It will be a process, where there is much to do. It is about solving political problems, while we have also discussed regional cooperation. Infrastructure and transport are important for people to communicate,” said Merkel.
The German chancellor said that the intention is that the process of European integration of the Western Balkans must accelerate, but she stressed that at the end of the day it would be up to the countries themselves to finish the needed reforms.
Prime Minister Rama, who was chosen to represent the region in a joint press conference with Chancellor Merkel and European Commission President Barroso, said the region was aware that it must show with actions that it can live up to its commitments.
“We aims to proceed to perform the necessary changes to ensure that the EU sees us as reliable partners and allies, as countries that are governed by the rule of law, with democratic economic and political institutions that can solve problems in peace, as countries that offer their people the possibility of EU membership,” said Rama.
Barroso stressed that the EU would continue to help the region “through the pre-accession instruments.
“It is projected that by 2020, 12 billion euros will be spent, of which 20 percent will be earmarked for regional projects,” he said.
The summit came as the EU chose new leaders. Donald Tusk, the current Polish prime minister is slated to become President of the European Council and Italian foreign minister, Federica Mogherini, will be the next European Union foreign policy chief.
Their selection is a good sign for Albania and the region, said Albert Rakipi of the Albanian Institute for International Studies.
“Donald Tusk led ŠPoland successfully during a difficult period for the entire European
Union, struggling with the economic crisis, but, what’s most important, he is also a strong supporter of a joint European future,” said Rakipi. “On the other hand, Poland is the most successful story of EU integration – and it is a country that supports the EU integration of others.”
He added that the selection of Mogherini, as the next EU foreign policy chief is very favorable for the Western Balkans in general, as aspiring EU members, and for Albania in particular.
“Italy is a big advocate for Albania in its efforts to join the EU, so Ms. Mogherini’s selection is great news,” Rakipi said.