Albanian Prime Minister attends key EU-Balkans meeting in Brussels

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Brussels today to meet with the new President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, as part of a high-level informal dinner with Western Balkan leaders and European Union officials. The meeting underscores the EU’s renewed focus on accelerating integration and deepening cooperation with the region.

Why is this important: This is the first major engagement between the new EU leadership and the Western Balkans, signaling a potentially more dynamic approach to the region’s European integration. Albania, which has steadily progressed in its EU membership negotiations, is expected to open a new chapter on foreign policy coordination with the EU later this month, marking another step in its accession process.

Context: Antonio Costa, Charles Michel’s successor, has prioritized speeding up the integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU, addressing long-standing frustrations over delays in the process. The meeting in Brussels represents an opportunity to discuss key issues, including economic cooperation, regional stability, and the EU’s engagement with its neighbors.

The informal dinner, organized by Costa, will bring together:

• Kaja Kallas, the new President of the European Commission
• Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement
• Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Regional leaders including Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s President Željka Cvijanović.

The agenda is expected to focus on the EU’s support for reforms in the region, the alignment of foreign policies with EU standards, and mechanisms to enhance regional cooperation.

Albania’s role: Tirana has consistently advocated for faster integration of Western Balkan countries, presenting itself as a reliable partner in implementing reforms and aligning with EU policies. Albania’s progress in opening negotiation chapters, including the anticipated chapter on foreign policy, reinforces its commitment to the EU accession process.

The meeting comes as Albania continues to strengthen its diplomatic role in the region, balancing its aspirations for EU membership with its contributions to regional stability.

Regional implications: The presence of leaders like Serbian President Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti also underscores the complex dynamics of EU-Western Balkans relations, particularly regarding ongoing disputes such as the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The informal dinner provides an opportunity for EU leaders to mediate and push for progress on such issues.

What’s next: Albania is preparing for an intergovernmental conference with the EU later this month, where discussions will focus on opening new negotiation chapters and assessing progress on previously agreed benchmarks. Meanwhile, today’s meeting in Brussels is expected to produce key takeaways on how the new EU leadership plans to address the integration challenges faced by the Western Balkans.