EU Leaders Gather in Athens for Informal Dinner on EU Enlargement

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel are on Monday (21 August) attending an informal dinner on EU enlargement in the Greek capital Athens.

Progress Report on Balkan Negotiations Expected in October

In October, the commission will report, as it regularly does, on the progress of negotiations with the Balkan countries, before European leaders decide whether to open full accession negotiations. A decision is expected at the EU summit in December.

20th Anniversary of Thessaloniki Declaration to be Marked

Although the European machinery is not yet fully operational, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will host a number of European leaders to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration, where European and Western Balkan leaders agreed that the future of the Balkans should have a European perspective.

Leaders of Balkan Countries to Attend the Meeting

The meeting will bring together the leaders of Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Romania and Croatia, among others.

Possible Visit from Ukrainian President Zelensky

And although there is no official confirmation or denial for security reasons, European leaders are also expecting a visit from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the Greek press reported.

Albanian Prime Minister Absent from Talks

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama will not be attending the talks, reflecting the low point in diplomatic relations between Athens and Tirana.

Controversy Surrounding the Beleri Affair

Syriza, Greece’s main opposition party, said in a statement on Sunday that it was the prime minister who had not invited her Albanian counterpart “because of the Beleri affair”.

Concrete Initiatives for Western Balkans to be Presented

Syriza also said the informal dinner should not be “another public relations opportunity” and that concrete initiatives for the rise of the Western Balkans will be presented. Should Zelensky appear, “we expect messages to be sent on the Cyprus problem as well,” the opposition party added.