President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivered a keynote address at today’s opening of the Bled Strategic Forum, focusing on the European Union enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans. She said that there is political will in the EU to integrate the region as soon as possible and stressed that, in her next Commission, there would be a Commissioner specifically dedicated to the enlargement portfolio.

“In the next Commission, enlargement must be a full-time job that requires undivided attention, and that is why I will appoint a dedicated Commissioner for enlargement. Let us write history together”, von der Leyen said.

In the current Commission, whose term will end this fall, Olivér Várhelyi held the position of the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement. His portfolio also included countries that are part of the EU’s neighbourhood policy.

In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen said that, during the mandate of the current European Commission, enlargement has returned to the top of our political agenda.

“Let us be very clear – Russia’s full-fledged war in Ukraine is for Europe a turning point like 1989. We live in a different world and we are forced to rethink our policies and objectives. If making Europe economically competitive and capable of defending itself, then I see the Western Balkans integration into the EU as critically important”, she said.

In the age of geostrategic rivalries, she added, a larger EU gives as a stronger voice in the world and enlargement is an investment in our collective strength and security.

“Our political will to integrate the countries of the region as soon as possible comes along with our firm determination that the EU is a community of democracies. Any compromise with our democratic principles would be fatal to achieving our objectives”, von der Leyen said.

She added that both EU member states and the countries in the Western Balkan region will face tough choices and that bilateral disputes should be dealt with.

“Integration in the EU will depend on governments making difficult and yes, sometimes unpopular decisions, but this is the time we live in. Postponing decisions means making wrong decisions, but making decisions, moving forward, means taking the lead, shaping the future and being the masters of our own destiny”, von der Leyen concluded.

In her speech, the President of the European Commission also reminded that the Western Balkan partners will adopt their Reform Agendas later this month, which are linked with 6 billion Euros of investment under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, proposed last year by the Commission. The amount of money means that each partner will receive roughly as much aid per person as the Western Balkans would under the EU cohesion policy.