European Council President tells Western Balkan countries there is a real prospect of EU accession

European Council President António Costa stated that the expansion of the European Union remains a realistic scenario for the Western Balkan countries. He said this during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the eve of the EU-candidate countries summit, Associated Press reports, according to UNN.

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According to Costa, in the face of geopolitical instability and economic challenges, the expansion of the European Union is a strategic interest for the entire continent.

"This is an investment in the peace, stability, and security of our continent,"

The official also noted that his tour of the region is evidence that "the European Union's commitment to the Western Balkans is real. As real as the possibility of enlargement."

The summit will take place in Montenegro

On Friday, Costa will co-chair a summit in Tivat, Montenegro, where EU leaders and representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro will gather. Currently, Montenegro and Albania are closest to EU accession.

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In recent years, the European Union has intensified its support for reforms in candidate countries amid fears of increasing Russian and Chinese influence in the region. Ukraine and Moldova also remain among the states seeking EU membership.

Bosnia remains among the laggards of the process

Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to lag behind in the European integration process due to internal political and ethnic disputes.

The position of the pro-Russian leadership of the Bosnian Serbs, which advocates for maximum autonomy and the weakening of the country's central authority, is of particular concern in Brussels.

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