Von der Leyen tours the Balkans, skipping Bosnia and Serbia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will skip Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during her Balkans tour, the European Commission announced on Friday.

“During the tour, President von der Leyen will visit Tirana, Pristina, Podgorica and Skopje. There she will meet with presidents and prime ministers, and visit EU-funded projects,” Commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta said, Radio Free Europe reports.

The visit to the four countries in the region is scheduled for September 30 to October 2.

Von der Leyen has for years had a warm relationship with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whom she has often addressed as “dear Aleksandar.”

This approach has been criticized by Western Balkans experts.

Ahead of parliamentary and general elections in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, von der Leyen plans to visit these two countries later, Podesta said.

This will be von der Leyen’s sixth tour of the region, a visit that has already become a tradition ahead of the publication of the annual progress report package for EU candidate countries.

“As the president said at the June summit, our Union will not be complete without the Western Balkans. During talks with partners, she will discuss the steps these countries need to take on their path to the European Union, as well as the gradual integration process supported by the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans,” spokesperson Podesta said.

Source: 24-ore.com