European Council President António Costa will travel to the Western Balkans from May 12 to 16 to meet with regional leaders and co-host the sixth European Political Community (EPC) summit in Tirana on May 16, the Council said in a statement.
The visit comes amid renewed momentum in EU enlargement and aims to reinforce the bloc’s commitment to the region.
“Enhancing cooperation with the Western Balkans is a top political priority for the EU and for me personally,” Costa said. “There is a clear enlargement momentum, but momentum needs commitment and follow-through.”
Costa will begin his tour in Belgrade on May 13, where he will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, and members of parliament. Later that day, he will travel to Sarajevo to address EUFOR Althea troops and hold talks with members of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On May 14, Costa will visit Montenegro for meetings with President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, and other officials in Podgorica. He will then head to Pristina to meet with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.
The following day, he will meet with North Macedonia’s newly elected Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova in Skopje before traveling to Tirana. In Albania, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj, and engage with students at the College of Europe.
Costa will co-host the EPC summit on May 16 in Tirana under the theme “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action.” The summit will focus on security and strategic coordination among European leaders, followed by three thematic roundtables.
Press conferences will be held in each capital visited.
Indicative schedule (local time):
Tuesday, May 13
09:30 – Joint press conference with President Vučić (Belgrade, Palace of Serbia)
17:20 – Joint press conference with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, BiH Presidency)
Wednesday, May 14
11:15 – Joint press conference with President Milatović (Podgorica, Vila Gorica)
16:45 – Joint press conference with President Osmani (Pristina)
Thursday, May 15
11:15 – Joint press conference with Prime Minister Mickoski (Skopje)
16:40 – Joint press conference with Prime Minister Rama (Tirana)