The countries of the Western Balkans should solve bilateral issues so that the enlargement of the European Union (EU) becomes a reality and not a dream, it was said at the Balkan Integration Forum (BIF), which is being held today in Podgorica.
Bodo Veber from the Council for Democratization Policy from Berlin, said that in the past many opportunities were missed in terms of enlargement, but that Russia's aggression against Ukraine opened a new "window of opportunity".
"Ukraine and Moldova are now candidates for EU membership, and this would not have been possible if it had not been for Russian aggression," said Weber on the panel "Western Balkans and EU enlargement - great expectations"
He added that two decades were wasted in enlargement and that before the Russian aggression against Ukraine, there was not so much unity in the EU.
"Finally, after two decades, enlargement has become an EU priority. The Union and the United States of America (USA) have now returned to enlargement after many years," said Veber.
Edward Joseph, a fellow at the American Johns Hopkins University, said that the Western Balkans is important for Europe's long-term vision and for preserving peace.
"We have seen what (Vladimir) Putin has done in Ukraine and continues to do in terms of his destructive influence, not only in the Western Balkans, but throughout Europe and globally, along with others who want to disrupt the world order," Joseph said and added that they must focus more on allies.
He pointed out the importance of the fact that countries like Montenegro are NATO allies and are committed to the protection and defense of their allies, adding that he believes that North Macedonia's NATO status is overdue.
Joseph said that the EU process was discouraging at the beginning of the century and added that the USA and the EU must engage in the Western Balkans, so that the countries of that region are fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic institutions.
"NATO has demonstrated its ability to receive new members, but the EU has not been able to do so. It was disappointing, especially after the issue of the name for North Macedonia was resolved, they pushed back the expansion again," said Jozef.
He said that the states of the region must continue to focus on strengthening democratic institutions.
"We need politicians who look forward, not backward, and who are focused on European values and work on them," pointed out Joseph.
He said that in some EU countries, someone can undermine the integration process and that there must be a consensus and the will for expansion, as was the case with NATO, led by the USA.
Speaking about how the US policy towards the Western Balkans will look after the presidential elections, Joseph said that whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins, the Western Balkans will be part of the agenda.
"Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and other countries that are NATO members will also receive attention. We expect the Trump administration to be more transactional. If the Harris administration comes to power, I expect to see a continuation of (Joseph) Biden's position. They will be engaged in the Western Balkans, but the states just have to continue to demonstrate their dedication and commitment and accept European values," said Joseph.
The Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of France, Rene Trokaz, said that, more than 20 years after the Summit in Thessaloniki, when the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans was announced, nothing significant has happened, adding that it must be accelerated.
"Already 60 percent of the Balkan Peninsula is in the EU. We need to finish what was started. We know what the difficulties are - conflicts, tensions, legacies of the past", said Trokaz and added that all countries are not in the same position when it comes to European integration.
He said that the New Methodology has ensured that the countries of the Western Balkans can benefit from the EU even before they become full members, that is, they have most of the benefits before membership, and that the Growth Plan encourages reforms, but also enables additional financing.
"The countries that have benefited from the Growth Plan will be in an invertible position as far as accession is concerned. It is an ambition," said Trokaz.
He added that there is no impression that the political elites in the region understand that the Growth Plan and the movement towards the single market are conditioned by fundamental reforms.
Trokaz said that the EU is a community of values and that is why they insist on the rule of law, but that there are also some technical matters that must be completed.
Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Haakon Blankenborg said that the EU is in a different position after Russia's aggression against Ukraine and added that, in addition, there are economic challenges throughout Europe, migration, green changes, that the door is open to populism and demagoguery.
“How do we get out of it? It is easier said than done, but it is important, especially for small countries, to understand that they are not the epicenter of the world. We need pragmatism to find solutions," said Blankenborg.
He said that blaming others will not lead anywhere in the process of European integration, but that leaders can transform "blame games into something that would be pragmatic reforms".
"If they don't do that, the states will be left to fend for themselves, in a complex world, where small states are more susceptible to confrontation with big countries than was the case before. Small states will lose if they don't unite and make compromises," said Blakenborg.
The vice-president of the European Economic and Social Committee, Aurel Laurentiu Plosceanu, said that the European path is not only a matter of commitment, but that responsibilities should be taken on that path.
"These obligations cannot only be on the shoulders of the political class. Reforms that should be implemented in the meantime include citizens, employers, social partners, civil society," said Plosceanu.
He reminded that the latest report of the European Commission shows that the countries of the Western Balkans have shown progress in various areas, but that there are long-term problems - the rule of law, political polarization, a judiciary that is not independent.
As he added to Plosceana, some external actors are increasing their influence in the region and slowing down integration into the EU.
He said that earlier it was said that all the countries of the Western Balkans would join the EU by 2025, but now 2030 is mentioned as the date, noting that Montenegro is a leader in integration and that the authorities want it to become a member by 2028. .
"In order for enlargement to be a reality and not a dream, bilateral issues between the countries of the Western Balkans and with the neighbors that are member states of the Union should be resolved," Plosceanu said.
He said that there should be a precise schedule for the Western Balkans, which would be based on the principle of "step by step" and on merit, where the reward would be full membership at the end.
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