After years of delay, Western Balkans hope for progress on joining the EU — and financial support

By LLAZAR SEMINI
Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The leaders of several Western Balkan countries that want to join the European Union have met informally in Albania’s capital to prepare for a summit on their progress in preparing for future membership. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed his counterparts from Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, as well as the EU enlargement commissioner on Monday. Albania plans to host an Oct. 16 summit on an initiative from Germany and France to encourage the six Western Balkans countries that aren’t already in the EU to keep working to align their policies and practices with the bloc’s. Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania are at different stages of integration into the bloc.