European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on both EU member states and candidate countries to more actively communicate the benefits of European Union enlargement to their citizens.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the initiative aims to bolster public support for the integration process.
“Candidate countries must increase their efforts to explain all the advantages of EU membership to their citizens. EU countries must also more actively explain the importance of enlargement to their own citizens. This means greater security, more prosperity, and a stronger European influence in the world,” she emphasized.
The European Commission President announced that more than €500 million in new financial support will be allocated to Western Balkan countries, reaffirming her support for accelerating their integration into the EU.
Von der Leyen also addressed a proposal put forward by Germany, France, and European Council President António Costa regarding the simplification of the accession process for new countries, including their phased integration into the Union's structures.
“This is a very interesting proposal, and we will discuss it,” she noted.
The Western Balkans region, which includes countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo, has been a key focus for EU enlargement policy. The EU's strategy involves providing financial assistance and structural reforms to help these nations align with the bloc's standards, aiming to ensure stability and economic growth in the region while gradually incorporating them into the European single market.
