Conclusions of the Brdo-Brijuni Process Leaders’ Meeting

Conclusions of the Brdo-Brijuni Process Leaders’ Meeting

Tirana

We, the leaders of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, met in Tirana, on 9 May 2019 in the presence of our guests, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini.

We recognised that progress made insofar has contributed to consolidation of democracy, regional peace, security and stability, and enhancement of regional cooperation.

We welcomed the recent Prespa Agreement, and concluded that such an example paves the way towards strengthening of European and Euro-Atlantic bonds with the Western Balkans region.

We acknowledged that this positive momentum has synergised new optimism in the region, in the light of its European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives, as key strategic objectives.

Aware of intensive internal debates in the European Union, in context of Brexit and of upcoming European Parliamentary elections, we welcome EU commitment towards the WB region, including through the Berlin and Brdo-Brijuni Processes, as well as through the recent meeting in Berlin convened upon the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron with the Western Balkans, and Croatia and Slovenia.

We commended Poland for hosting the next Berlin Process Summit, confirming that the WB region remains high on the EU agenda.

We also commended the active support of Croatia and Slovenia for the European perspective of the Western Balkans participants and their commitment to prioritise the region during their forthcoming respective Presidencies of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020 and in the second half of 2021.

We reiterated the importance of stepping up efforts to implement key reforms, also related to further advance of the participants from the region in their respective integration processes, with a merit-based approach.

We support the European Union’s position that one of the conditions for an aspirant’s membership is to solve open bilateral issues with its neighbours. We will actively strive to maintain dialogue and to deepen the trust within the region that we represent. All open issues will be resolved peacefully, in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.

We emphasise the positive significance of the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans for strengthening democracy, the rule of law and respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights in the region and for resolving bilateral issues.

We call on the European Union to consider its enlargement to the Western Balkans as a matter of geopolitical significance, having in mind that the full integration of the Western Balkans into the European system of values is an important factor for the overall European stability as well. This does not exclude the obligation of the candidates countries to implement the standards set by the European Union for the countries seeking fullfledged membership. We believe that for the peace, security and prosperity of the Western Balkans and of the European Union Member States, it is mutually important that the standards are respected and the negotiation process is carried out more flexibly and faster.

We reiterated that enchancing connectivity within the Western Balkans, as well as between the European Union and the WB, with increased investments in transport, energy and digital infrastructure, represents a strategic interest for all, and a precondition for economic growth, competitiveness and full economic integration within the region and with the European Union.

We agreed on the need to further strengthen dialogue and reconciliation processes in the region, based on truth, trust and adherence to all agreements achieved thus far, and in the light of preservation of peace and security and prosperity of the present and comming generations.

We agree that SLOVENIA will be the next host of the Brdo-Brijuni Process Leaders’ Extraordinary Meeting, in the end of this year.