The EU-Western Balkans summit ended with pledges of European support for the region’s infrastructure and much talk of ‘connectivity’ – but words like ‘integration’ and ‘enlargement’ were notably absent from the declaration.
Much work is to be done before the EU can take in new members. That was the main message that resonated through Sofia’s National Palace of Culture on Thursday, as EU and Western Balkan leaders met for the long-awaited summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this, saying that he did not favour movement before “we have all certainties and genuine reforms made”.
“No progress was made on enlargement; this is a question that remains for the June EU Summit,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said more bluntly, a few hours earlier.
Even the Macedonian and Greek leaders, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, who made the most substantive breakthrough of the day, were careful to lay out the road of domestic negotiations about the “name” compromise that lies ahead, instead of focusing on the achievement itself.
“We have pinpointed one option that may be acceptable for both sides [but] we have to consult with the other political factors in our countries, with the presidents and with the other political leaders,” Zaev cautioned in a press conference.
“I believe we have covered a major part of the distance, but there is still distance to cover,” his Greek colleague added.
As for the other important impasse that is blocking the paths of two prospective EU members, the stalled Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, mixed messages came from the two heads of state.
During the “family photoshoot”, Kosovo’s Hashim Taci and Serbia’s Alexander Vucic were seen close to each other, while they later shook hands when they signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU under the approving gaze of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
For more read the full of article at The Balkaninsight
