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European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
News article7 June 2022Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

Commissioner Várhelyi travels to North Macedonia to participate in the Open Balkan Summit on 8 June

Open Balkan Summit

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, will travel to North Macedonia to participate in the Open Balkan Summit on 8 June in Ohrid, hosted by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski. Ahead of the Summit, Commissioner Várhelyi said: “I welcome the renewed impetus by leaders in the Western Balkans to advance on regional integration. The war Russia has waged in Europe is a wakeup call on the need to speed up the EU accession process, a geostrategic investment in the stability and security of the whole of Europe. Inclusive regional cooperation, based on EU rules, is key to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU's single market, which is at the heart of our shared prosperity. Building quickly the Common Regional Market agreed by the six Western Balkan countries is paramount for this. But also, let us be clear, the full potential of our ambitious €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan to support the Western Balkans will only be reaped with all six”. Commissioner Várhelyi will also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the Western Balkans. More on the EU's Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans in the factsheet(For more information: Ana Pisonero — Tel.: +32 229 54320; Zoï Muletier — Tel.: +32 229 94306)