European Commission President: Russia is Trying to Stir Up Old Conflicts in the Western Balkans

At the opening of the Security Forum in Bled, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that although the countries of the Western Balkans have chosen the path of European integration, Russia is still trying to reignite old conflicts in the region.   

According to the President of the European Commission, historically, the Western Balkans have often found themselves at the crossroads of East and West, North and South, but now a new generation has chosen to move towards Europe.

In her opinion, the Russian authorities ‘cannot accept this reality’ and remain in the past, as well as trying to restore old conflicts.

‘The Kremlin is trying to rekindle old conflicts and sow discord both within the Western Balkans and between the region and the rest of Europe,’ she stressed.

At the same time, von der Leyen stressed that despite this, the Western Balkan countries continue to implement key reforms and move towards EU integration.

The President of the European Commission is confident that any compromises with the EU's democratic principles could be fatal to achieving the goals.

‘Both EU member states and countries in the Western Balkans region will face tough choices. Bilateral contradictions must be resolved. Integration into the EU will depend on governments that will have to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions,’ she concluded.