Brussels, 15 December 2023 (MIA) - The EU has strongly reiterated its collective commitment to a future where all six Western Balkans partners are part of the Union. The Commission's objective is for Albania and North Macedonia to open accession negotiations on the first Fundamentals cluster as soon as possible, and the attempt is to reach that goal next week, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the end of the two-day EU Summit on Friday, MIA reports from Brussels.

"The New Year begins with excellent news for the European Union, our neighborhood and friends because of yesterday's decision of the European Council to grant enlargement steps forward. This will be a landmark in our common history. We have decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, we have decided to grant Georgia the candidate-country status, we have decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved," von der Leyen told a press conference alongside European Council President Charles Michel and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

According to her, yesterday's decision show that the EU is living up to its promise, adding that the reasons for enlargement have never been stronger and more compelling.

"In a world that is shaken by multiple crises, enlargement is an investment in stability, an investment in security but also an investment in the prosperity of our continent, and a big investment in democracies that stand tall and united," noted von der Leyen.

Photo: MIA archive