The EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said during a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama that regional cooperation will bring a €30 billion investment plan in the Western Balkans.
“We are ready to reconfirm our engagement and commitment that we have put on the table with the economic and investment plan. A plan that we’ve shown since Fall mobilizes one-third of the regions’ GDP. Nearly €30 billion in the form of investments that will come to the region. This plan will not work out if the region itself does not function as a whole if we don’t have a regional market”, the commissioner said.
Furthermore, Commissioner Varhelyi reiterated that June will be a “crucial” month for the Western Balkans.
“We are entering the month of June which is a critical month for the Western Balkans. We have many issues on the table. We wish to hold intergovernmental conferences with Serbia and Montenegro so that they can proceed with accession negotiations. We also wish to have intergovernmental conferences with Albania and North Macedonia”, added the EU Commissioner.
Asked whether Bulgaria will continue to be an obstacle to North Macedonia’s EU path, and so indirectly also damaging Albania, the Commissioner responded that there is a lot going on “behind the scene”.
“As I said this is a critical month, we are working hard. Even at the moment and behind the scenes, this is a time of silent diplomacy so that we can find a solution. EU’s Presidency is engaged and committed to finding a solution, and the same goes for the EU Commission”, the commissioner explained, adding that it is still too early to jump to conclusions.
Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Albania has fulfilled all criteria to pave the way to its first Intergovernmental Conference, and reiterated the country’s endorsement of the so-called “Balkan mini-Schengen”.
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