Costa ahead of Western Balkans visit: Vucic’s commitment to reforms is clear

Alignment with the EU’s common foreign policy is one of the conditions for enlargement, European Council President Antonio Costa told Euronews ahead of his visit to the Western Balkans, where he will be traveling next week.

According to announcements from Brussels, Costa will meet on the morning of May 13 with the President and Prime Minister of Serbia, as well as with members of parliament.

Ahead of the tour, Costa spoke about Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s recent visit to Moscow. Asked whether that visit sends a problematic signal, he said that aligning with the EU’s common foreign policy is one of the requirements for accession.

“They are marking a historical event there, but their future lies in Europe. Three weeks ago, I had a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen and President Vucic. His commitment was clear regarding the formation of a new government and the implementation of three essential reforms: electoral law, media freedom, and the fight against corruption,” Costa stated.

According to him, it is crucial to understand that enlargement is, above all, a process of internal reform.

As announced by the European Council, Costa’s visit to the Western Balkans aims to highlight the importance of renewed momentum in the enlargement process and in EU–Western Balkans relations.

As part of the tour, Costa will host the sixth summit of the European Political Community in Tirana on May 16.