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EU enlargement
Since it was founded in 1958, the EU has regularly accepted new member countries. Each applicant country must meet certain requirements before membership is permitted.
In the presence of their Prime Ministers as well as high-level representatives of the European Union and the United Nations, Foreign Ministers Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias signed today at the Prespa Lake the agreement resolving the name issue, following 25 years of diplomatic negotiations between the two countries.
The EU – Western Balkans Summit in Sofia today reaffirmed the EU's commitment towards its Western Balkans partners, reiterating the region's belonging to the European family. The Summit has set out actions to strengthen cooperation in the areas of connectivity, security and rule of law.
EU leaders will gather at an EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia in May to bolster connections with their Western Balkan partners
Improving connectivity within the Western Balkans, as well as between the Western Balkans and the European Union, is a key factor for growth and jobs and will bring clear benefits for local, regional and European economies, as well as citizens.
In the Western Balkans, the prospect of EU membership is an important driver for economic reform essential to enhance trade and investments. The trade flow between the EU and the Western Balkans has over the past 10 years more than doubled, reaching almost 44 billion Euros in 2016. Trade is largely liberalised, and more and more European companies are including the Western Balkans in their value chains. This process of business integration has been a powerful engine for creating jobs in EU member states.
