President von der Leyen travels to Tirana, discusses accession process, new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and participates in the Berlin Process Summit

On Sunday 15 and Monday 16 October, President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Tirana, Albania, where she will participate in the Berlin Process Summit, held in the Western Balkans region for the first time.

On Sunday afternoon, President von der Leyen will meet the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, and the Prime Minister, Edi Rama, to discuss Albania's EU accession process. President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Rama will hold a press conference following their meeting, at +/- 17:30 CEST, which will be broadcast live on EbS.

On Monday, President von der Leyen will be joined by Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, to participate in the Berlin Process Summit. The Summit will bring together Heads of State or Government from the Western Balkans.

The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss with regional leaders the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, currently under preparation by the Commission, which aims to bring some of the benefits of EU membership to the people of the Western Balkans already now, through integration into  the Single Market, regional economic cooperation, and the acceleration of fundamental reforms, and increased financial support.

The plan will complement the support already provided under the EU's €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan launched in 2020, which has mobilised so far €16 billion in investments for flagships projects.

During the Summit, the Western Balkans  leaders will discuss progress on the Western Balkans Common Regional Market, including the implementation of the regional mobility agreements signed last year in Berlin. The Summit will also acknowledge the recent voluntary reduction of roaming charges between the region and the EU, for which the support of the Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council was fundamental.

Finally, the Western Balkans partners will endorse a series of joint statements concerning cooperation in fields such as climate and pollution, digital transition, trade and transport facilitation, the ambition to join the Single Euro Payment Area and the intention of establishing a convergence observatory.

Also on Monday, the President will participate in the inauguration of the liaison office of the College of Europe in Tirana.

(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Ana Pisonero – Tel. +32 2 295 43 20; Zoï Muletier – Tel. +32 2 299 43 06)