The European Union and Western Balkan countries have endorsed a declaration to step up cooperation in research and innovation, reaffirming shared commitment to the region’s path towards EU membership.
EU enlargement is “a strategic investment in our shared stability, prosperity and security”, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said at a summit between leaders from the EU’s Member States and its six Western Balkan partners.
The European Commission is proposing negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to integrate them into the EU’s ‘Roam Like at Home’ regime.
“SMEs contribute to resilient local ecosystems where they invest, provide quality jobs and safeguard resilience for our eastern border region, while supporting social cohesion”, stated SMEunited Secretary General Véronique Willems in reaction to the European Commission’s Communication on Eastern border regions.
The EU’s annual Enlargement Package, adopted Wednesday by the European Commission, details the progress made by the candidates for EU membership amidst the current “tense geopolitical context”.
