The EU-Western Balkans summit will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 17 May 2018.

The summit will aim to inject new energy in the EU-Western Balkans relationship. It will seek to:

  • reaffirm the EU’s commitment towards its Western Balkans partners and reiterate the region’s belonging to the European family
  • strengthen links between the EU and the Western Balkans in infrastructure, digital and human connectivity
  • work more closely together to tackle common challenges, such as security, migration, geopolitical developments and good neighbourly relations

The summit will be centred on the theme of connectivity with a view to improve the links with the Western Balkans and within the region. In February this year Donald Tusk stressed the importance of the summit for building strong connections with the Western Balkans:

“We will aim to strengthen connections both with and within the region. This spans from more investments in transport infrastructure, through multiplication of educational and cultural exchanges to making communication among our citizens easier and faster. The summit will also aim to boost cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including security and migration.”

Who will attend the summit?

The EU-Western Balkans summit will bring together:

  • heads of state or government from EU member states
  • leaders from the 6 Western Balkans partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo*

The meeting will be hosted by Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, will chair the meeting. He will represent the EU together with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, are also expected to be present.

For more information on EU-Western Balkans relations, visit the following website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2018/05/17/