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Unable to make them part of the union and fearing the rise of Russian influence in the region, the US and the EU are trying to lure the Balkan countries with money in the hope of keeping them oriented towards the West. .
The leaders of the Western Balkans have gathered in Skopje, North Macedonia, to participate in the proceedings of the European Union conference for the economic growth of the region.
The European Union's €6 billion growth plan for the Western Balkans is a 'leverage' that could double the size of the economies of the six Western Balkan countries, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
After being promised EU membership years ago, the accession process across the region has slowed to a crawl, largely due to reluctance among the bloc's 27 members and a lack of reforms across the region.
In this position, in November 2023, the European Commission proposed a new growth plan for the Western Balkans, which was based on four main pillars.
1-expansion of economic integration with the EU single market. 2-Promoting economic integration within the Western Balkans through the common regional market. 3-Acceleration of fundamental reforms. 4- Increasing financial assistance to help reforms, with 2 billion euros in grants and 4 billion euros in loans from 2024 to 2027.
But in exchange for the funds, countries must implement reforms and resolve all outstanding issues with their neighbors.
The EU's aim is to bring greater stability to a region that emerged from the bloody 1990s breakup of the former Yugoslavia but is still gripped by tensions.
This was confirmed by the US Assistant Secretary of State, James O'Brien, in his speech held today at the Summit held in Skopje, where he sent a clear message to the countries of the Western Balkans so that they do not become an obstacle to reforms after will face consequences.
" We can do things better. We support aspirations and we have discussed this. You've never been closer. This is a matter of hope because it differs from other offers. Every state must do the practical work and the citizens must feel the benefits. Here we talk about freedoms to allow people and goods to move freely and that is happening. The US supports the idea. We have given a helping hand to this region and we will remain committed, but we are focused on including the country in the market by specifying initiatives that are important for citizens' businesses in the region. So each individual saves about 5% every time he transfers money in and out of the region and people will feel this. We also need to develop mechanisms for implementation, as many of these processes or such meetings sound abstract to people. No one can become an obstacle and if anyone does then they will face consequences ," he said.
With two hotbeds of war already open in Ukraine and Gaza and ongoing tensions in Taiwan with China, a mess in the Western Balkans would be the last thing the US and the EU need.
But unable to make them part of the union and fearing the rise of Russian influence in the region, the US and the EU are trying to lure the Balkan countries with money in the hope of keeping them oriented towards the West. ./ Pamphlet
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