The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans (2019-2020)

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations

EU - Kosovo

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations.

See more on our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/eu-kosovo-8th-legislative-term_16303_pk">previous package</a> on the 8th legislative term.

EU - Kosovo (2019-2020)

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, participates to the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Before her address to the Council, she speaks to the press. One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles.

EU-Western Balkans Summit

EU-Western Balkan Summit

EP Plenary session - Parliament’s statements - Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Trilogue on Western Balkans Facility

EP Plenary session - 2022 Report on Kosovo

EP Plenary session - 2022 Report on Serbia

EP Plenary session - Question Time to Commission - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

EP Plenary session - EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package

AFET interparliamentary Committee Meeting - EU Enlargement Policy in the Aftermath of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo

AFET Committee- Exchange of views with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EP Plenary session - Situation in Bosnia Herzegovina

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Albin KURTI, Prime Minister of Kosovo

EP Plenary session - The outcome of the Western Balkans summit

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June - Group photo

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press about the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria

EPP leaders meet ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia. Arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Johannes HAHN, Donald TUSK, Viktor ORBÁN, Silvio BERLUSCONI, Leo VARADKAR, and statement by Antonio TAJANI.

EPP Western Balkans Summit: arrivals and statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Video stockshot with illustrative images of the capital and countryside of the Western Balkans country Montenegro produced by the Audiovisual Service of the European Commission.

Infoclip: Montenegro

Family photo with Boyko BORISSOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister, and Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the occasion of the EPP Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Burlgaria

EPP Western Balkans Summit: family photo

On the occasion of the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

This stockshot provides examples of EU-financed projects under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), filmed in 2015, in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Infoclip: The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - EU-financed projects

This video stockshot shows illustrative images of the capital and countryside of the Western Balkans country Kosovo. Produced by the Audiovisual Service of the European Commission.

Infoclip: Kosovo

This infoclip shows illustrative images of the capital and countryside of the Western Balkans country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Produced by the Audiovisual Service of the European Commission.

Infoclip: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, presents the 2018 Enlargement Package during the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the EP in Brussels.

Presentation of the 2018 Enlargement Package by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations: extracts EP Committee on Foreign Affairs

During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK).

Decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans: extracts from the debate

Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, and Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, speak to the press after the College meeting, during the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg.

Read-out of the College meeting of 06/02/2018 by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Johannes HAHN, on Western Balkans Strategy

The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) holds a public hearing on corruption in the Western Balkans, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Corruption in the Western Balkans: extracts from the public hearing

This infoclip illustrates some of the countries in the Western Balkans

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