The European Union and its Western Balkan partners signed a new Joint Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, reaffirming their commitment to deepen security and justice cooperation at a ministerial forum held in Sarajevo on Thursday and Friday.
The agreement builds on a previous plan signed in 2018 and aims to strengthen joint efforts against radicalisation, terrorism, and organised crime across the region, EU officials said in a joint statement.
The two-day EU–Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, brought together ministers from Denmark, representing the EU Council Presidency, European Commissioners for Home Affairs and Justice, and counterparts from six Western Balkan countries. Representatives from the incoming Cypriot and Irish EU presidencies also attended.
Officials discussed regional security challenges, migration management, judicial reforms, and democratic resilience.
Online radicalisation and organised crime
Participants warned that social media and online gaming platforms have become key tools for radicalising and recruiting vulnerable youth. They pledged to expand cooperation through the EU’s Knowledge Hub on preventing radicalisation and to strengthen collaboration with Europol and CEPOL.
The meeting also stressed the importance of combating organised crime and drug trafficking through the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). Ministers highlighted the need for closer work with online platforms to remove illegal content and enable lawful data access.
Migration, asylum, and border control
The EU and Western Balkan states welcomed progress under the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans launched in 2022. They reaffirmed their joint commitment to curb irregular migration by reinforcing border protection, fighting smuggling networks, and aligning visa policies with EU standards.
The bloc said it would continue to provide political and financial support for migration and asylum management, while urging Western Balkan partners to promote legal migration pathways and ensure effective returns and readmission.
Rule of law and judicial reforms
On justice matters, EU officials called on Western Balkan governments to strengthen judicial independence and shield magistrates from political interference. The EU urged partners to intensify efforts against corruption and organised crime by working more closely with Eurojust and other EU agencies.
The meeting also reviewed new monitoring tools designed to track reforms and bolster judicial systems.
Democracy and fundamental rights
Both sides acknowledged growing challenges to democratic institutions and electoral integrity. The EU outlined its new European Democracy Shield initiative and urged Western Balkan governments to pursue electoral reforms in line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.
Officials also discussed the need to address racist and xenophobic hate crimes and ensure the enforcement of fundamental rights in line with EU standards.
The annual forum underscored the EU’s continued engagement with the Western Balkans on justice, security, and rule-of-law cooperation, seen as key areas for advancing the region’s EU integration prospects.