- The European Parliament adopted reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and North Macedonia.
The Report on Albania highlights the broad political consensus within the country and strong popular support for EU membership, as well as full alignment of its foreign and security policies with those of the Union.
“We welcome the rapid progress the ‘accession front-runner’ has made over the past years. Albania is a strong and reliable partner in foreign policy and has taken remarkable steps in all areas such as justice, anti-corruption and environmental protection”, said the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Albania, Andreas Schieder (Austria).
Among the challenges facing Albania are electoral reform and ensuring transparency of media ownership.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Report urges that a “Georgian scenario” must be averted in the country, warns of the danger posed by Milorad Dodik’s separatist rhetoric and his ties to Russia, and criticizes Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić “for meddling in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s internal affairs”.
Members of the European Parliament strongly condemned the separatist policies promoted by Dodik and the leadership of Republika Srpska, and called on the EU to take decisive measures, including targeted sanctions, to counter the destabilising forces threatening the country’s stability and European security. The Report also expresses concern about malicious foreign interference and disinformation campaigns by external actors—particularly Russia and China—which are undermining public trust in the EU.
“The future of the Balkans lies within Europe, not under Russian domination. Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the most difficult situation in Europe after Ukraine, and we must find a way to help it achieve full integration into Western structures. Developments in BiH demonstrate every day that we must strive for peace, stability, and development, because if we let up, we may once again face war and destruction,” said the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ondřej Kolář (Czech Republic).
The Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina also calls for the necessary constitutional and electoral reforms, efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, and measures to combat corruption and organized crime.
The North Macedonia Report likewise calls on the country to focus on implementing reforms in public administration, governance, the rule of law, and anti‑corruption policy.
Among the positive aspects, it notes that North Macedonia is a reliable partner of the EU, especially in foreign and security policy.
At the same time, the European Parliament is “deeply concerned that North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being particularly hard hit by foreign interference and disinformation campaigns” and that it “is also alarmed by the roles of the Hungarian Government and the Serbian Government in advancing China’s and Russia’s geopolitical objectives”.
This is the first report on North Macedonia’s progress adopted by the Parliament since 2022. The draft report initially provoked tensions with Bulgaria over the wording on “the Macedonian language and identity,” which was subsequently removed from the final document.
Thomas Waitz (Austria), the Parliament’s rapporteur on North Macedonia, emphasized that “North Macedonia has been a frontrunner in the region, showing real commitment to EU values, including a historic name change and bold reforms”, “but its accession has been unfairly blocked for too long due to bilateral disputes, fuelling public frustration and disillusionment with the EU”. “I call on all political parties in North Macedonia to engage in constructive dialogue to reach the required consensus, which would strengthen the country’s multi-ethnic character and accelerate EU progress” – asserted Waitz. “Once constitutional amendments to protect minority rights are finally adopted, chapter openings can begin immediately”.
- 11 July marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide
Last year, the UN General Assembly designated 11 July as International Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Day, and this year many countries held commemorative events.
Thousands of people—including heads of state from the region, the EU, NATO, and high‑level foreign delegations—visited the Potočari Memorial Centre (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on 11 July tohonorr the victims of the largest war crime in Europe since World War II.
This year the remains of seven more victims were buried, including two 19‑year‑old men.
In total, the memorial cemetery contains 6,750 graves. Over 1,000 victims remain missing.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the Srebrenica genocide “one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s collective memory” and stressed that the EU “rejects denial, distortion, and the glorification of war criminals,” highlighting “the responsibility of political leaders – especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans – to uphold truth and promote reconciliation”.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expressed condolences to the victims’ families via X: “Today marks thirty years since the horrific crime in Srebrenica. We cannot change the past, but we must change the future. On behalf of the citizens of Serbia, I extend my condolences to the families of Bosnian victims, convinced that such a crime will never recur.”
No Serbian state official attended the commemoration.
A senior U.S. State Department official visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo
Brendan Hanrahan, Senior Advisor in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), undertook a diplomatic mission to the Western Balkans.
On X, he described this as “a pivotal time in the Western Balkans” and expressed eagerness to “reinforcing ties between the U.S. and countries in the region”.
Mr Hanrahan’s visit, which took place in mid‑July, included stops in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, he held a series of discussions with local officials and politicians, but apart from his meeting at the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no further details of individual meetings were disclosed.
In its final statement, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that, according to Mr Hanrahan, “the United States remains a strong and committed partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will continue to deepen bilateral relations based on peace, stability, shared economic goals, and prosperity.”
In Serbia, the U.S. Department of State official met with President Aleksandar Vučić and Foreign Minister Marko Đurić to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional development, and current international issues.
Mr Đurić afterward described the visit as evidence of “a renewed spirit and vitality” in Serbia–U.S. relations and as a sign of “intensified and productive political dialogue at the highest level, as well as a bright future for Serbian‑American ties.”
President Vučić emphasized that “dialogue is the only means to resolve outstanding issues and to uphold international law,” and he reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to “preserving peace and stability”.
During his time in Kosovo, Mr Hanrahan held meetings with a range of political leaders, including Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, opposition party figures, and representatives of the “Serb List.”
They discussed bilateral relations, regional development, economic cooperation, and security matters, with a particular focus on the importance of finalizing a comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.
The U.S. Embassy described the talks as “constructive”.
Acting Prime Minister Kurti stressed that the United States is “a steadfast ally” of Kosovo, and that Kosovo “will always be its reliable partner”.
Representatives of the Serb List reported having “open and constructive” discussions; they voiced concerns about “institutional violence against the Serb community in Kosovo” and “unilateral actions by Kosovar institutions” that they say worsen security and violate Serb rights, calling for immediate de‑escalation, a firm international response to Serb grievances, and the establishment of a Serb‑majority Municipalities Association.
While in Kosovo, Mr Hanrahan also visited NATO’s KFOR bases and inspected the Gračanica Monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Mr Hanrahan’s mission as Senior Official of the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs marked the first visit by a high‑ranking U.S. official to the region since the change of administration in the White House in January. His trip to the Western Balkans was widely interpreted as a signal of renewed U.S. diplomatic engagement under the Trump administration.
- Ukraine–Southeast Europe Ministerial Meeting in Dubrovnik
On 12 July in Dubrovnik, co‑chaired by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman, the second Ministerial Meeting of the Ukraine-Southeast Europe format took place.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Montenegro also participated.
Minister Sybiha thanked the participating countries for their support in countering Russian aggression and stressed that Ukraine is not a competitor to any EU or candidate country. “We are partners, not rivals, on our shared path to a stronger and greater Europe” – the minister underscored.
The meeting concluded with a joint communiqué expressing support for Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression, endorsing Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO, calling for increased pressure on Russia, insisting on accountability for Russian war criminals, and urging the immediate restoration of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The communiqué was endorsed by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. In contrast to the Odessa summit, when Kosovo’s delegation did not participate, the Dubrovnik meeting was attended by Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla‑Schwarz.
On the other hand, there are similarities between the Odessa and Dubrovnik meetings: Serbia, just as it did at the recent Ukraine–Southeast Europe summit in Odessa, again declined to participate in the joint communiqué in Dubrovnik.
