Varhei: The aim of the EU is to hold an intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia in the coming months

European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhei stated that the EU's goal is to hold an intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia in the coming months, BGNES reported.

"With Serbia and Albania, and perhaps with North Macedonia, our goal is to hold intergovernmental conferences in the coming months," Varhey said.

He called on Serbia and Kosovo to make progress in the EU-mediated dialogue.

"Belgrade and Pristina must make progress in the EU-mediated dialogue in order to advance on their path to the EU. A constructive approach is needed and unilateral actions that increase tensions must be avoided," said the European Commissioner during the interparliamentary conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) in Budapest.

He added that the EU should continue accession negotiations with Serbia and open Cluster 3, which is about competitiveness and inclusive growth.

Referring to the results of the European Commission (EC) regarding enlargement policy, he pointed to the recently adopted Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The plan lays the groundwork for accelerated gradual integration to better prepare partners for a smoother accession process.

The European Commissioner stressed that the EU's overall financial support for the Western Balkans until 2027 will reach a "comparable level of aid intensity" as with the current EU cohesion and structural funds, which means 90% of the aid intensity until 2027 | BGNES