Initially foreseen to happen in Zagreb, the EU-Western Balkans Zagreb Summit will take place on 6 May 2020 via video conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the summit's objectives?

The EU is the most important partner of the Western Balkans region and the video conference will underline the significance of the unique EU-Western Balkans relations.

In the fight against COVID-19, the European Union and the Western Balkans are united. The summit will provide an opportunity to highlight mutual solidarity and cooperation in these time of crisis. Partners in the region have contributed to help EU member states while the European Union has mobilised over €3.3 billion to help Western Balkans deal with the coronavirus crisis.

The leaders will also reaffirm the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the commitment of the Western Balkans partners to uphold European values and principles.

The leaders will exchange views on the new phase of close cooperation to tackle the significant socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of regional cooperation, as well as how to best manage security challenges.

Who will attend the Summit?

The EU-Western Balkans summit will bring together: heads of state or government from EU member statesleaders from the 6 Western Balkans partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and Kosovo*

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will chair the meeting. He will represent the EU together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen. Andrej Plenkovic, Prime Minister of Croatia, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council, Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, the European investment Bank and the Regional Cooperation Council will also participate.

After the summit a press conference will take place, with President Michel, President Van der Leyen and Prime Minister Plenkovic.

          * 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.