EU and Western Balkans boost partnership amid Ukraine war

As proof of the bloc’s commitment, European Council president Charles Michel underscored the EU’s energy support to the region as the war impacts supplies and prices

The EU Western Balkans Summit took place in Tirana, Albania (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

EU leaders and their counterparts in the Western Balkans have worked to strengthen their partnership during a summit in Albania as Russia’s war in Ukraine threatens to reshape the geopolitical balance in the region.

The EU wanted to reassure leaders from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on Tuesday that they have futures within the wealthy economic bloc.