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SUBJECT [May 8] EU-Western Balkans Zagreb Summit held via video-conference
DATE 2020-05-08
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zagreb-declaration-en-06052020.pdf

Photo: European Council. EU-Western Balkans Zagreb Summit held on May 6, 2020

 

On May 6, the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which was supposed to be held in Zagreb, Croatia, was held via video conference due to COVID-19 crisis. The meeting was chaired by Charles Michel, the President of the European Council. Heads of State or government from EU member states and leaders from the six Western Balkans partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Serbia participated in the meeting.

 

During the Summit, EU leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans, recalling the 2000 Zagreb, the 2003 Thessaloniki and the 2018 Sofia Summits. They were determined to strengthen their support for the region's political, economic, and social transformation. The discussion topics of the Summit included COVID-19, regional cooperation, socio-economic recovery, and security and migration challenges.

 

President Michel emphasized that working in accordance with the framework of G7 and G20 and international cooperation among EU Member States and Western Balkans States are crucial, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. As a result of the meeting, EU Member States decided to assist with a package of over EUR 3.3 billion to support the health sector and facilitate social and economic recovery and micro-financial assistance.

 

The Summit was an occasion to reaffirm the values of democracy and rule of law. It also worked as a channel to share the European perspective and position of Western Balkan countries and strengthening unity and solidarity among the region.

 

At the end of the Summit, EU leaders adopted the Zagreb Declaration, with which the Western Balkans partners have aligned themselves.

 

The attached file is the 2020 Zagreb Declaration.

 

 

[Sources]

European Council. (2020, May 6). Western Balkans Zagreb summit, 6 May 2020. Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2020/05/06/

 

 

BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr)