Brussels, 13 October 2025 (MIA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen begins Monday her tour in the Western Balkans, including a visit to Skopje on Wednesday.

The European Commission said von der Leyen is expected to hold separate meetings with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, and Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi.

President von der Leyen will kick off her Western Balkans tour in Tirana on Monday, where she will meet Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama, after which she will address the opening ceremony of the EU-Western Balkans Investment Forum.

On the same day, von der Leyen will travel to Tivat where she will meet with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, and with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić. On Tuesday, still in Tivat, she will deliver the opening speech at the Montenegro Investment conference, before heading to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President will visit the Srebrenica memorial and participate in Sarajevo in a meeting with the members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Trio Presidency. She will then meet with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto.   

On Wednesday morning, President von der Leyen will be in Serbia. She will have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia Đuro Macut, then with President Aleksandar Vučić.   

On Wednesday afternoon, President von der Leyen will travel to Pristina, where she will meet with the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and later with caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.   

Traveling from Pristina on Wednesday, the EC President will conclude her Western Balkans tour in Skopje.

The European Commission said the tour will be an occasion to reiterate the EU's support for the region's EU accession path and gradual access to the Single Market, and to discuss the EU's €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for 2024-2027.

This is von der Leyen’s fifth annual tour of the Western Balkans, following similar visits in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

MIA file photo