Today, Aleksandra JoksimoviC, former Serbian Ambassador to the UK and now Director of the Center for Foreign Policy, said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in the Western Balkans to promote the Growth Plan, a crucial part of EU expansion efforts.

Von der Leyen is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Friday.

The EU is speeding up the membership process for Western Balkan countries, according to Joksimović, this includes promoting the first funds from the Growth Plan.

All the countries in the region, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, have submitted their reform plans, which the EU has accepted.

Serbia is set to receive €112 million, this funding is expected to be used for the renovation of the Belgrade-Bar railway, a joint project between Serbia and Montenegro.

Joksimović stressed how crucial EU expansion is, arguing that the EU won’t be fully secure without including the Western Balkans.

This geopolitical issue is currently overriding other considerations, including public support within EU member states, which has not seen much change.

She hopes the EU will tackle enlargement more as a policy initiative than just a bureaucratic one, aiming to take significant steps toward integration by 2030.

However, Joksimović noted that not every country in the region is at the same point in the negotiation process.

Montenegro and Serbia are making significant progress, so the concept of a major enlargement, similar to when 10 new member states joined, is unlikely.

A more realistic strategy might be to allow each country to join as it meets the criteria, one by one.

She wrapped up by talking about Tonino Picula, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, underscoring the need for political determination to reach membership goals.

Joksimović is confident that both Picula and the Serbian government will find common ground to support Serbia’s efforts to meet all required criteria by 2027 as announced by the Serbian government.