European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the Western Balkan countries saw much more in the EU than its own Member States and underlined that each of the Western Balkan partners must continue their respective reform paths, especially when it comes to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

Recalling his recent trip to the Western Balkans at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker described the visit as memorable for many reasons, adding that what struck him the most was the passion and conviction in the European Union, the European Commission reports.

Juncker said that it gave him a renewed sense of belief and hope – if a region, “a dramatic region” like the Western Balkans was so determined to reform from top to bottom in order to join our Union, then the Union must be worth being part of.

“The Western Balkans clearly see much more in us than we ourselves see in our Union. I want to see this same belief in our Union across all 27 Member States,” Juncker said.

He added that there was a great deal of work to be done in the Western Balkans: all bilateral conflicts must be resolved and more unity must be brought about.

Juncker said that each of the Western Balkan partners must continue their reform path, especially when it comes to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms and values.

“As I said to all leaders in the region, there will be no fast-tracking. We will put substance over speed. Each case will be taken on its own merits with no fixed dates or firm deadlines,” Commission President said.

“But I came back from the trip more convinced than ever that this is our shared future. It is about reconciling our history and geography,” Juncker noted.

According to him, it is also a reason more to focus on building a stronger, more democratic and united Union.

This is what the European Council scheduled for 22 and 23 March will be about, he said.