The Summit of the Western Balkans leaders will be held on June 10 at the Presidential Palace of Tirana, only a few days ahead of Brussel’s decision on whether it will launch negotiation talks with Albania and North Macedonia.
The leaders will discuss regional projects acquired through the Berlin Process, while EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi will also attend the event.
The heads of the six Western Balkans states, namely Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are set to coordinate their requests and concrete projects for the EU investments in the region.
“In the field of interconnecting road and railway transportation, technology, energy, under the framework of these pillars, the Western Balkans are expected to receive €9 billion in investments”, said Odeta Barbullushi, advisor to Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Last year, the meeting between the six Western Balkans leaders was held online. Known as the Summit in Sophia, a package of regional investments was adopted. This time the summit will not be held online but at the widely known Palace of Brigades in Tirana, four weeks before the last meeting of the Berlin Process.
“This makes the discussion even more necessary, which will be held on June 10, exactly to align the ideas and projects in these areas”, added Barbullushi.
But what has Albania gained from the Berlin Process? The process began in 2014 under the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed at helping Balkan countries to cooperate on mutual projects funded by the EU.
“I would mention the North Macedonia – Albania Power Interconnection, also the segment Tirana-Airport, support for the Fierza hydropower plant or the Tirana ByPass”, declared the prime minister’s advisor.
While waiting for a confirmation by all states, technical teams are working on an agreement that will need to be signed prior to the Berlin meeting in July.
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