Western Balkans

Being an old EU member-state (1981), a NATO ally (1952) and a participant in other European and regional institutions and fora, Greece is working for the sustainable stability, security and development of Western Balkans, based on the principles of good neighbourly relations and respect of International Law. Therefore, Greece firmly and actively supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans as a strategic goal.

In this context, the EU-Western Balkans Thessaloniki Summit during the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2003 resulted in the adoption of the Thessaloniki Agenda, that recognizes the European perspective of the region and defines ways for its enhancement.

Greece’s regional policy for the Western Balkans is directed towards the development of the region through enlarged bilateral cooperation and makes full use of existing regional formats and EU mechanisms. Greece participates in the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Berlin Process, an initiative inaugurated in the summer of 2014 aiming at strengthening the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Furthermore, Greece promotes various forms of multilateral cooperation in the region, such as the Quadrilateral Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Serbia, the Quadrilateral Greece-Albania-North Macedonia-Bulgaria, the Quadrilateral Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Croatia, the Trilateral Greece-Bulgaria-Serbia and the Trilateral Greece-Bulgaria-Romania.

These formats promote cooperation between participants in a number of sectors, not only in foreign policy, security and civil protection, but also in transport, communications, interconnectivity of networks and infrastructure (road, railway, telecommunications, energy) and the implementation of a waterway network in the Balkans. Greece attaches particular importance to the gradual formation of a common regional market in the Western Balkans, to joint actions in the areas of energy (oil and gas pipelines, interconnectivity of electric energy grids) and investment, as well as to the formation of a technology platform for undertaking joint initiatives.

Under the moto "Strengthening SEE Synergies", Athens held the Chairmanship-in-Office of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) from July 2021 until June 2022. During the period 01.07.2023--30.6.2024, the Chairmanship of the SEECP will be assumed by Skopje.

Economic relations

The EU is the main trading partner of the Western Balkans (approximately 72% of the exports of these countries are directed towards the EU, while 58% of their imports originate from the EU). Moreover, over 65% of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) comes from the EU, exceeding 10 billion euros.

All Western Balkan countries are in the pre-accession stage to the EU and, therefore, receive funding under the Pre-Accession Assistance Instruments (IPA III) for the period 2021-2027, with a total budget of 14.2 billion euros. The main funding pillars of the IPA III Pre-Accession Assistance Instruments 2021-2027 are the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy, good governance, harmonization with the European acquis, good neighborly relations, and strategic communication, the Green Agenda, sustainable connectivity, competition, and inclusive growth, and cross-border cooperation.

The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) is the European policy framework for relations between the EU and the Western Balkan countries. This process promotes stability, the transition to a market economy, regional cooperation, and preparation for eventual EU membership.

The Western Balkans Summit (Berlin, November 3, 2022) marked the restart of the accession process of the region's countries to the EU. Furthermore, the Prime Ministers of the six Balkan countries signed three significant agreements for mutual recognition of identity cards, academic diplomas, and professional qualifications.

The Western Balkan countries are participating in the initiative known as the "Berlin Process," which discusses, among other things, the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, the Common Regional Market, Green Lanes (fast and efficient cross-border movement of goods), and the Green Agenda. The Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans, with a budget of 30 billion euros, focuses on implementing major projects related to green and digital transition, connectivity and sustainable transportation, clean energy, private sector support, and human capital development.

In the most recent Summit (Tirana, October 16, 2023), the EU announced a new development plan for the Western Balkans with the long-term goal of smoother integration into the single European market and the European Union. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, set as key priority the achievement of progress by the WB6 countries in terms of improving the regulatory framework a) for entrepreneurship, b) combating corruption, and c) fighting organized crime.


Greece's Relations with Western Balkan Countries

Greece has historically maintained a trade surplus with the Western Balkan countries. In 2022, trade flows have returned to pre-pandemic levels, resulting in an overall surplus with the countries in the region of 2.1 billion euros: Albania +435.6 million euros, North Macedonia +1,088.4 million euros, Bosnia and Herzegovina +41.3 million euros, Kosovo +80.9 million euros, Montenegro +285.1 million euros, and Serbia +159.9 million euros.

Greece is one of the major foreign investors in Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia. Greek investment presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro is less prominent but still significant due to the establishment of subsidiaries of major Greek companies, especially in Kosovo and Montenegro. The total Greek invested capital in the region is estimated at 1.55 billion euros.