Borrell to host informal dinner with Western Balkan leaders

English

Gazeta Express

10/05/2022 17:13

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is expected to host an informal dinner with the Western Balkan leaders tomorrow (Wednesday), Gazeta Express reports.

Peter Stano, Spokesperson of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Gazeta Express, that EU High Representative Borrell on Wednesday will continue with the tradition of inviting the leaders from the Western Balkans for an informal dinner. Stano has not elaborated whether Kosovo prime Minister Albin Kurti has confirmed his attendance in the informal dinner in Brussels. Currently Kurti is paying an official visit to US.

“The HRVP continues with the tradition of inviting the leaders from the Western Balkans for an informal dinner twice a year to discuss the future of the region and the main challenges it is facing. This includes the situation in the region and in the EU-Western Balkans relations, the expectations on EU accession and wider geopolitical context. Usually, the participation is at the level of leaders (Presidents) or Prime Ministers. The previous informal dinner took place in September 2021 in New York at the margins of the UN General Assembly and the first one under the mandate of HRVP Borrell was last year on May 18 (2021). The next informal dinner will take place in Brussels tomorrow, Wednesday, evening,” Stano told Gazeta Express in a written statement.

It remains unknown who will represent Kosovo, considering that both the President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti are visiting the United States. The Prime Minister’s Office has not answered Gazeta Express questions on whether Kurti will cut short his visit to US and attend the informal dinner hosted by Borrell. Media in Belgrade report that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has already accepted the invitation. The last informal dinner was hosted by Borrell in September 2021 on the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting and Kosovo was represented by President Vjosa Osmani. /GazetaExpress/