Juncker Appeals for EU Unity Over Western Balkans

In his last state of the union address, the European Commission chief said that if the EU does not unite to shape the destiny of the Western Balkans, ‘others’ will step in and do so instead.

The European Union can export stability to the Western Balkans only if there is consensus inside the bloc, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament on Wednesday in his fourth and last annual State of the EU address.

He warned that if Europe did not shape the future of the Balkans, “others” would so so.

Unlike 2017, when Juncker spoke in English and explicitly mentioned enlargement to the Western Balkans for the first time, his last speech as head of the European Commission was in French, and focused more on populism, the lack of cohesion between Eastern and Western Europe, and the lack of consensus on migration policy.

“Europe can export stability, as we have done with the successive enlargements of our Union,” Juncker said. “For me, these are and will remain success stories – for we were able to reconcile Europe’s history and geography.

“But there is more to be done. We must find unity when it comes to the Western Balkans – once and for all. Should we not, our immediate neighbourhood will be shaped by others,” Juncker said.

Despite Brussels trying to sponsor talks between Serbia and Kosovo on a possible final agreement, including a land swap between Pristina and Belgrade, Germany and other EU countries have voiced concerns that land swaps could open up old wounds in the Balkans and elsewhere.

EU policy on migration, which has also put the Balkans on the EU table, was one of the main topics Juncker addressed in his speech.

For more read the full of article at The Balkaninsight