TDI Special: Leaders of 27 member states of the Council of European Union gathered in Belgium to attend the EU Balkans Summit and passed the Brussels Declaration 2024. The summit was chaired by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
To correspond to the European Council’s strategic agenda for 2024-2029, this summit provides new ground to strengthen and reaffirm the partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans.
The declaration proposed to ratify €6 billion worth of growth plan agreements, which cover regional common markets and higher education accessibility.
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In line with Western Balkan’s commitments over projects, they continue to improve the transport sector under the proposed transport community treaty, implement the green agenda under the Paris Agreement, and pursue a digital single market in the area of digital transformation and media.
The declaration also welcomed the security and defense partnership as well as cooperation in migration management.
The declaration also agreed on 68 flagship investment projects, bringing total funds to €17 billion under the economic and investment plan (EIP).
The meeting highlights the current regional challenges under the layout of European Unity and condemns strongly against Russian aggression in the region.
It concluded by announcing the first European Political Community Summit in Tirana next year.
In the press briefing, the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, stated “Today’s declaration underscores the fact that our growth plan is a real game changer. We should stick with the new momentum for the credibility and integrity of the region”.
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President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, shared her view: “The enlargement process has gained new vitality. We have two priorities marked by this declaration: one is new accession, and the other is graduating integration in the single market”.
