Friends of the Western Balkans

The mission of the network ‘Friends of the Western Balkans’ is to provide more insight and information on the current situation in the Western Balkans and the state of play of the enlargement process to EU parliamentarians. Moreover, the network will offer opportunities for exchanges of perceptions and ideas with Western Balkan stakeholders and support closer ties between the EU and Western Balkan social democrats.

This network comprising members of European national parliaments and members of the European Parliament, was established in June 2022 with the support of FEPS, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Dialogue Southeast Europe, Renner Institut, Masarykova demokratická akademie, Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, Foundation Max van der Stoel, Društvo Progresiva, Olof Palme International Center and in cooperation with CeSPI. 

This second meeting of the network will have a twofold aim. On the one hand, it will consolidate the network and the basis for the continuation of its work in the future. On the other hand, it will carry on its analysis of the issues at stake – both on the EU and Western Balkan sides – and of the most recent developments in the process of enlargement.

The reflection took stock of the results of the previous meeting and moved forward in the identification of a common social democratic approach to accelerate a process of enlargement, which is otherwise stalling.

The current international political situation and the reluctance with which some countries have implemented sanctions against Russia have further highlighted the urgency to fulfil a promise that was given a long time ago (the Thessaloniki declaration will celebrate next year its 20th anniversary) and ensure that Western Balkan countries do not shift further away from the European Union.