“There is currently no approval for an expansion to Bulgaria, Romania,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) in Tirana. From the Austrian point of view, an extension is unthinkable if measures are not taken to reduce the numbers. “We have 75,000 unregistered migrants,” said the Chancellor. That is a question of security.

Even if Bulgaria is the “main gateway”, several thousand come via Romania. Romanian President Klaus Johannis, for his part, emphasized that he wanted to continue talking to Austria. “We will discuss and negotiate until the last moment,” he said, according to Romanian media. The EU interior ministers are due to decide on the Schengen extension on Thursday.

Reference to Claims

Brought as Nehammer in Tirana, Austria’s position once again expressed: Austria is not only concerned with the Western Balkans route, but also with the migration route via Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary to Austria. Nehammer referred to further demands from the Austrian side.

Austria recently made demands on the EU Commission with regard to the Balkan route. Among the five points demanded by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is, for example, the “Rejection Directive”, with which individual examinations would no longer be necessary. The Commission takes up some of these points in its most recently presented plan of action.

Nehammer: Action plan “first important step”

At the summit, Nehammer referred in particular to asylum procedures in safe third countries and the “Rejection Directive”. “We still have a lot of topics to talk about,” says Nehammer. In general, however, the action plan presented by the EU Commission is a “first important step”. He that the EU “recognizes that the Western Balkans are an important geostrategic partner when it comes to illegal migration”.

Von der Leyen shows understanding for Austria

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen showed understanding for Austria’s concerns regarding migration. “Austria needs solidarity and support, which is why we are working on it with our Austrian friends,” said von der Leyen. Austria is “extremely hard hit by migration” and “if we look at illegal migration, we see that it has tripled compared to last year”.

The EU Commission presented the action plan for the Balkan route on Monday. The plan includes 20 measures. The EU Commission supports the Western Balkan countries in the asylum and registration procedures and in “ensuring appropriate reception conditions”.

The Commission has announced a return program for the coming year. The EU border protection authority Frontex is to help strengthen the EU’s external border protection. A task force from the EU police authority Europol is also to be deployed to combat people smugglers.

Vienna becomes candidate status for Bosnia-Herzegovina

The summit, to which the 27 EU heads of state and government as well as the Western Balkan countries – Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo – were invited and which was held for the first time in the Western Balkans region, was next to migration safety is also an issue. It is also about preventing influence from abroad.

From Austria’s point of view, the granting of candidate status to Bosnia-Herzegovina on the basis of a corresponding recommendation by the EU Commission is particularly important in the EU enlargement process. Candidate status is expected to be granted in December. At the same time, like the EU, all countries point out that rapid progress can only be made on the basis of credible reforms.

Principles of EU foreign policy central element

In the statement, the states named support for European foreign and security policy, including sanctions against Russia, as a basic requirement for further rapprochement. This particularly addressed Serbia, which has so far not supported the EU’s punitive measures because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, Serbia and Kosovo were asked to settle their disputes.

In exchange for reforms, the EU intends to continue to provide generous financial support to the Western Balkan countries. An economic and investment offensive that has already been launched envisages providing up to nine billion euros in grants in the coming years. These should then mobilize an additional 20 billion euros in investments.

Finally, another billion euros will be made available to mitigate the consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine. The money can be used, for example, to support families and companies that are suffering from the sharp rise in energy prices. The financial support is also intended to help avoid possible dependencies of the Western Balkan countries on China.

“You have to decide which side you’re on”

President von der Leyen called on the Western Balkan countries to take a stand against authoritarian states such as Russia and China. “You would have to decide which side you are on – on the side of democracy, that is the European Union, your friend and partner. Or do you want to take a different route?”

In this context, Nehammer referred to the partnership between the Western Balkans and the EU and the economic cooperation, for example in the field of energy supply. The summit was “a totally strong sign of life for the relationship between the European Union and the Western Balkans,” Nehammer summed up. “It was spoken very openly” – about problem areas and the areas where there is still some catching up to do.

Signed roaming declaration

“I firmly believe that the future of our children will be safer and more prosperous when the Western Balkans join the EU and we are working very hard to make progress,” said EU Council President Charles Michel. He also praised the joint statement between EU and Western Balkan telecom companies to reduce roaming charges in 2023.

Background: On the sidelines of the summit, the telecom companies of the EU countries and the six Western Balkan countries signed a declaration on roaming charges. This declaration of intent provides for a reduction in the roaming surcharges between the EU and the western Balkan states from October 1, 2023, as the ÖVP delegation leader in the European Parliament Angelika Winzig explains in a broadcast.