Leaders of the EU's 27 member states and six Western Balkan countries held a summit via video link because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Although the meeting, unfortunately, was not held as would have liked, by physically coming together in Zagreb, in terms of content we have achieved results in line with our expectations and those of our southeastern neighbours," Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic one of the co-organisers of the summit, said at a press conference.
"I'm sure the peoples and states in our neighbourhood will appreciate the message that was sent today from Zagreb and all other capitals of the EU member states," he added.
"The European Union wants to continue to support the countries of Southeast Europe on their path to the EU. We wanted to send a message for the continuation of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Croatia especially underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina as its nearest neighbour deserves membership candidate status and that it should be helped in that. In that context, we underlined the issue of the equality of the constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina, notably the status of the Croatian people in terms of legitimate representation in the highest BiH institutions," Plenkovic said.
He pushed for holding such EU-Western Balkans summits every two years at least.
He said he was pleased the blockade of a decision to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania was lifted during Croatia's EU presidency.
Asked if some countries in the region should be more grateful to the EU and kiss the European flag instead of China's, as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did, Plenkovic said it was not up to him to talk on anyone's behalf but that all six Western Balkan countries had clearly articulated their European orientation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Western Balkans was an absolute priority for the EU and that this region belonged to the EU.
She underlined the importance of reforms, notably regarding freedom of the press, which she said was the cornerstone of the EU and the best instrument in the fight against disinformation.
European Council President Charles Michel underlined the importance of the Zagreb Declaration which once again reaffirmed the European perspective of Western Balkan countries.
He welcomed the €3.3 billion aid package which the EU set aside for them to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
PM: This was enlargement summit, Western Balkans not forgotten
This was an enlargement summit, although some countries do not like this word that much, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the end of the Zagreb Summit on Wednesday, adtheding that a message was sent to the Western Balkan countries that they had not been forgotten, despite the health crisis.
"We are here. We are standing by you. We are not focused only on our public health situation, our own economic and social recovery after the crisis that hit all of us, this is the main message to Southeast European countries," said the prime minister of the country which is currently presiding over the Council of the European Union.
The virtual summit was held instead of the real one which was scheduled to be held in Zagreb on May 6 and 7.
The Zagreb Declaration was adopted by the 27 EU member states and Macedonian Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina collective presidency Sefik Dzaferovic, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci.
Nowhere in the Declaration is the word "enlargement" specified, however PM Plenkovic claims that "this in fact was the enlargement summit, notably in light of a political decision of two months ago to open EU entry talks with another two countries, two are already negotiating and two would like to open entry talks in the future,"
"There are some countries that are not down with that word (enlargement) for several reasons, but facts are facts," Plenkovic said.
The EU has been holding entry talks for years already with Serbia and Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania have been given a green light to launch the negotiations recently, but they have not been given a concrete date.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a potential EU candidate and Kosovo, apart from not being recognised by five EU members, still needs visas to enter the EU.
Zagreb Declaration - important document for EU-Western Balkans relationship
The European Union adopted the Zagreb Declaration at a virtual summit on Wednesday reaffirming the membership prospects for six Western Balkan countries.
"Recalling the 2000 Zagreb, the 2003 Thessaloniki and the 2018 Sofia Summits, the EU once again reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. The Western Balkans partners reiterated their commitment to the European perspective as their firm strategic choice. The credibility of this commitment depends also on clear public communication and the implementation of the necessary reforms," says the declaration, which is an important document for the future relationship between the EU and the six countries of Southeast Europe.
The summit was held via video link because a physical meeting was not possible due to the current coronavirus pandemic. The summit was conceived as the central event of the Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The document highlights "unity and solidarity" in combating the pandemic, for which the EU has prepared a € 3.3 billion package to support the Western Balkans. It reaffirms the membership prospects for the six countries without actually mentioning the word "enlargement".
The EU is also preparing a large economic and investment package for the region which will be unveiled at a later date because it is tied to negotiations on the next seven-year EU budget.
The declaration calls on the Western Balkan countries to respect European values and the rules of law.
It clearly states that the EU deserves greater acknowledgement for support in fighting the coronavirus outbreak than some other actors whose aid has received far greater attention in the region.
"The fact that this support and cooperation goes far beyond what any other partner has provided to the region deserves public acknowledgement. The EU also recognises the valuable support the Western Balkans have given during the pandemic to their immediate neighbours and towards the EU.
"The EU and the Western Balkans partners share the objective of a peaceful, strong, stable and united Europe, underpinned by our historical, cultural and geographical ties and by our mutual political, security and economic interests. The EU is determined to further intensify its engagement at all levels to support the region’s political, economic and social transformation and welcomes the pledge of the Western Balkans partners to uphold European values and principles and to carry out necessary reforms thoroughly and vigorously. Increased EU assistance will be linked to tangible progress in the rule of law and in socio-economic reforms, as well as on the Western Balkans partners’ adherence to EU values, rules and standards."
The declaration goes on to say that the EU fully supports the Western Balkans partners’ pledge to inclusive regional cooperation and strengthening good neighbourly relations, including with EU member states.
"Implementing bilateral agreements in good faith and with tangible results, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria, remains important in this regard. Further and decisive efforts need to be devoted to reconciliation and regional stability, as well as to finding and implementing definitive, inclusive and binding solutions to partners' bilateral disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past, in line with international law and established principles, including the Agreement on Succession Issues," the document says.
The EU called on the Western Balkan partners "to progress towards full alignment with EU foreign policy positions, notably on issues where major common interests are at stake, and to act accordingly."
Text: Hina