Thank you, Mr President for your welcome and for this very successful Summit between the European Union and the Western Balkans, here in Tivat, where we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Montenegro’s restored independence. What you have achieved in just 20 years is truly impressive! This Summit concludes my second annual Western Balkans tour, as I travelled to all our partners in the regi...
Read More

Colleagues, it is my pleasure to welcome you to today's European Union - Western Balkans Summit here in Tivat. Meeting again just six months after our last Summit in Brussels confirms the priority we attach to our relationship and allows us to take stock of the progress achieved. I just concluded my second annual visit to the Western Balkans partners and I would like to thank all the leaders...
Read More

The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the 11th EU-Republic of Korea summit taking place in Brussels on 10 June 2026. President Lee Jae Myung will represent the Republic of Korea. The summit will be an opportunity to taking the EU-South Korea strategic partnership forward in all...
Read More

World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental outreach led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually since 1973. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world. In 2026, the Republic of Azerbaijan will host the global commemoration of World Environment Day in Baku – the theme of the Day this year is climate action. For decades, the...
Read More

Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change (local time) Thursday 4 June Informal dinner of leaders on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s independence Friday 5 June 11:00 Arrivals and doorsteps 12:00 Plenary 13:30 Family photo, followed by cultural intermezzo 14:00 Working lunch 16:00 Exit doorsteps and national press briefings At the end of t...
Read More

Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Chaired by Neophytos Charalambides, Cyprus Minister of Health 15.00 Informal videoconference Exchange of views on the recent Ebola Bundibugyo virus (BVD) outbreak in Central Africa At the end of the meeting (+/- 17.00 in Justus Lipsius main press room) - Press conference with Neophytos Charalambides, Cyprus Minister o...
Read More

Today, the Council approved the opening of negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia (the 'WB6') with a view to extending the EU's Roam Like at Home (RLAH) area to these partners. “Today’s decision to open negotiations on extending the 'Roam Like at Home' area to the Western Balkans sends a clear signal of the EU’s commitment to the r...
Read More

It is a pleasure to be back in Belgrade, one year after my first visit. And thank you, Mister President, for your hospitality. First of all, let me express my deepest condolences for the loss of the Serbian UNIFIL soldier who died while carrying out his duties in service of peace. I am here, as I was last year, to reaffirm the European Union’s continued commitment to Serbia’s European perspe...
Read More

On 4-5 June 2026, the High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Kaja Kallas will travel to Montenegro to participate in the EU–Western Balkans Summit. On 4 June, HR/VP Kallas will take part in a Youth Policy Dialogue in Budva. She will then join Prime Minister Milojko Spajić for the opening of the Western Balkans Youth Forum. In the evening, HR/VP Kallas will attend a working dinner hosted by ...
Read More

I am back in Pristina today, one year after my first visit, to reaffirm the European Union’s continued support to Kosovo* on its European path. Since 1999, the European Union has been Kosovo’s strongest and most reliable partner, and the largest provider of financial assistance. To date, we have invested €3.7 billion – in education, infrastructure, energy, the environment, businesses, human rig...
Read More