Leaders from across the European Union and the Western Balkans gathered in Tivat, Montenegro, for the 8th EU–Western Balkans Summit, hosted by Montenegro.
The meeting brought together President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa, and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, alongside leaders from EU Member States and the six Western Balkan partners.
The Summit focused on assessing progress along the European integration path and defining priorities for deeper cooperation, economic convergence, and regional stability. Hosted in Tivat, the discussions reaffirmed the strategic importance of enlargement and gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.
Commitment to EU enlargement and reform
President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s commitment, stating that the future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union. She emphasized that investment, economic integration, and closer cooperation are steadily bringing the region closer to EU membership. Enlargement, she noted, remains a strategic investment in shared stability, prosperity, and security in a changing geopolitical environment.
Leaders reaffirmed that the EU enlargement process remains merit-based, with reforms, good neighbourly relations, and regional cooperation as essential conditions for progress. They also underlined the need to strengthen alignment in foreign, security, and defence policy.
Progress under the growth plan
Participants reviewed the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which continues to deliver tangible benefits for citizens and businesses. Since 2024, €673.6 million has been disbursed to support reforms and investments under the plan, which has a total financial envelope of €6 billion.
The Growth Plan aims to accelerate integration into the EU Single Market, strengthen regional economic cooperation, and support key reforms through increased pre-accession funding.
Leaders also highlighted progress in:
- Trade facilitation through Green Lanes
- Steps toward integration into the EU Single Market and SEPA
- Expansion of digital infrastructure and connectivity across the region
New initiatives for cooperation and mobility
The Summit also announced several new initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation and expanding opportunities:
The EU will strengthen collaboration between the Western Balkans and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity to enhance resilience against cyber threats.
A new EU-funded mobility programme with the Regional School of Public Administration will allow up to 100 civil servants from the Western Balkans to gain experience in EU Member State administrations.
The European Commission plans to extend the DiscoverEU youth travel programme to participants from the six Western Balkan partners starting in 2027.
Preparatory steps have been outlined toward future roaming agreements between the EU and the Western Balkans.
Outlook
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all six Western Balkan partners to accelerate reforms, expand economic opportunities, and deepen gradual integration into the EU Single Market.
The Summit concluded with a shared commitment to maintain momentum in the enlargement process and to continue delivering concrete benefits for citizens through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and related initiatives. Photo by Brian Dell, Wikimedia commons.