Berlin Process Summit: EU Announces €1 Billion Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans and Welcomes New Agreements to Strengthen the Common Regional Market

Today, President Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative Josep Borrell participated in the Western Balkans Summit within the framework of the Berlin Process.
During the Summit and as preceded during her mission to the region last week, the President announced a significant energy support package of €1 billion in grants from the EU to help the Western Balkans address the immediate consequences of the energy crisis and build resilience in the short and medium term.
The Summit also focused on the progress made by the region within the Common Regional Market, the regional initiative agreed by Western Balkan leaders in Sofia in 2020 bringing together the six economies (Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo*), as well as on the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) launched in October 2020.
The European Union welcomed the progress in negotiations for three new Common Regional Market agreements that facilitate free movement and employment across the region. The agreements concern intra-regional identity travel, recognition of academic qualifications, and recognition of qualifications for certain professions. They will substantially improve mobility and cooperation within the region.
The region also approved a declaration on cooperation in energy security issues, in which leaders committed to redouble their efforts to implement the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, in line with the EU Green Deal. This cooperation will contribute to greater energy diversification and cleaner energy, as well as accelerate reforms in their national energy markets to align with the EU.
In its ninth edition, the Berlin Summit, hosted by Chancellor Scholz, brought together Heads of State and Government from the Western Balkans and their counterparts from nine EU member states and the United Kingdom to advance the agenda of regional cooperation and European integration. The Summit is part of the Berlin Process, a multi-member state EU initiative, under German leadership, for cooperation with the six Western Balkan partners and promotion of regional cooperation and the European perspective of the region. It consists of annual Summits and a series of Ministerial meetings. EU representatives, as well as key international financial institutions and regional and international organizations, participate in the Ministerial meetings and Summits.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.