European Union President António Costa Wednesday urged Western Balkan leaders to accelerate reforms and take full advantage of the EU’s renewed enlargement momentum, while warning that secessionist rhetoric in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska threatens regional stability and undermines the country’s European path.
Wrapping up a visit to Sarajevo, Podgorica and Pristina, Costa delivered a message of commitment and caution, urging political unity and deeper engagement with the bloc’s reform agenda across the region.
In Sarajevo, Costa marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide and the Dayton/Paris peace accords by reaffirming the EU’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership aspirations. But he raised alarm over actions and rhetoric from Republika Srpska, the country’s Serb-dominated entity, which he said run “counter to Bosnia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional order.”
“Secessionist moves are incompatible with EU accession,” Costa told reporters after meeting Bosnia’s tripartite presidency. “What is needed now is de-escalation and cooperation among political leaders to preserve stability and security.”
He urged swift adoption of two key judiciary laws, the appointment of a chief EU negotiator, and implementation of the country’s reform agenda. “There is a high cost if Bosnia fails to seize this opportunity—not only in terms of EU accession, but also by missing out on the Growth Plan,” he said, referring to the EU’s new investment and reform initiative for the region. Bosnia is the only Western Balkans country not yet benefiting from the plan.
Costa began his Sarajevo visit by meeting troops from EUFOR Althea, the EU peacekeeping mission, which he described as a “concrete expression of EU commitment to stability in the region.”
In Podgorica, Costa praised Montenegro as a frontrunner in the EU enlargement process and encouraged the country to maintain its pace. “Montenegro has shown ambition, delivered reforms, and remained fully aligned with EU foreign and security policy,” he said during a joint press conference with President Jakov Milatović.
He welcomed the European Parliament’s recent recognition of Montenegro’s progress and backed the country’s goal of becoming the 28th EU member state by 2028. “It is a strong goal—but an earlier accession would be an even greater success,” he said, stressing the need for political consensus and good neighbourly relations.
Costa is due to join Milatović and other Western Balkan leaders on Wednesday for a summit with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In Pristina, Costa expressed support for Kosovo’s EU ambitions and called for progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia.
“Kosovo’s place is in the European Union family, but it also requires delivering on reform commitments and building trust—internally, with neighbours, and with the EU,” he said following talks with President Vjosa Osmani.
He welcomed Kosovo’s work to strengthen democracy and encouraged continued implementation of its reform agenda to benefit from the EU’s Growth Plan.
Costa said the recent appointment of EU Special Representative Peter Sørensen provides a fresh opportunity to move forward with the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. “This will be key to your European path and to improving the daily lives of Kosovars,” he said.