Brussels, 24 April 2024 (MIA) - The European Parliament, in a bid to enhance its oversight of the enlargement process, plans to open a new office in the Western Balkans.

According to a document seen by Euractiv, the proposal has been prepared by the EU Parliament ahead of the 20th-anniversary of the EU’s biggest wave of enlargement. Namely, the bloc was joined by 10 new members in 2004.

The new branch will give the European Parliament more oversight of the accession processes, working with existing EU delegations that operate under the oversight of the EU’s diplomatic service (EEAS), MIA reports from Brussels citing Euractiv.

Additionally, the new office will strengthen relations with the parliaments of Western Balkan countries and increase the visibility of European Parliament officials in activities related to enlargement.

The opening of the new office follows the inauguration of an office in Ukraine after a request from the Kyiv government, as part of the EU Parliament’s strategy. Only a few offices are established in non-European cities, including New York, Addis Ababa, and Jakarta, where Parliament staff is seconded to the EU Delegation.

The Parliament has liaison offices in each EU country to reach out, communicate with stakeholders, organise events, and interact with local media.