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climate and attractiveness of the environment, the European Commission chief highlighted.
These reforms will be accompanied by funding for investment from the European Union, if they take place.
“The EU Commission put forward an investment package totalling €6mn, comprising €2bn in grants and €4bn in loans. The underlying principle aligns with our investment strategy under NextGenerationEU for the member states,” von der Leyen said.
In Tirana, it was suggested once more that the year 2030 is realistic for the EU's enlargement, with a primary focus on the Western Balkans.
Serbia-Kosovo conflict
The summit in Tirana also included discussions on Serbia and Kosovo's ongoing dispute. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, stressed that the EU cannot allow bilateral conflicts to hinder progress, particularly given the recent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. Michel highlighted that cooperation hinges on reconciliation and that a stable future is contingent on it. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic
emphasised that in Kosovo, the essential conditions for the well-being of Kosovo Serbs are absent, categorising their plight as a humanitarian issue rather than a political one.
She also expressed bewilderment at Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's call for sanctions against Serbia, deeming
it inconsistent with the principles of
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised the importance of implementing agreements brokered by the European Union to normalise relations and promote dialogue.
While this marks the tenth Berlin Process summit, it is the first time it has been hosted in a Western Balkan country.
“The whole world is under attacks that are destroying the peace and the order which we took for granted over the past decades”
good neighbourly relations and contrary to the objectives of the Open Balkans initiative, which include Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti was also present at the Tirana summit, although Brnabic did not have a meeting with him. Nevertheless, Brnabic conveyed a clear message that it is crucial for Belgrade and Pristina to reengage in dialogue and establish the Association of Serbian Municipalities, as outlined in the Brussels Agreement.
Six Western Balkans countries are
at various stages of the process. Montenegro and Serbia started the EU accession negotiation in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Albania and North Macedonia were given the green light for the start of negotiations last year, but Skopje has to make constitutional amendments required by Bulgaria to proceed in the process. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a candidate country, while Kosovo, which is not recognised by Belgrade, is a potential candidate.
Moldovan president says 'great danger' from Russia requires new national security strategy
Iulian Ernst in Bucharest
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu unveiled for public debate the draft of the National Security Strategy at the meeting of the Supreme Security Council (CSS) on October 11.
At a press conference after the CSS meeting, the head of state emphasised that the document is based on three objectives, aimed at strengthening security in "the most dangerous moment since independence".
"We have two great dangers to national security today: the aggressive policy
pursued by the Russian Federation against our country and against peace, in general, and the corruption rooted in Moldova," said Sandu, a statement from the presidency said.
“The whole world is under attacks that are destroying the peace and the order which we took for granted over the past
decades ... Here in Moldova, we cannot pretend that this does not concern us. If we ignore the harsh reality, it will not go away. We must be prepared and make a clear choice on which side of the world we want to be on,” Sandu added.
EU membership is one of the strategy’s targets, besides boosting investments
“Neutrality does not mean that we should be passive and helpless”
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