Nataša Popović Attended the Ninth Friends of the Western Balkans Meeting in Podgorica

Nataša Popović, Member of the Managing Board and Programme Lead of the Direction Europe Foundation, attended the ninth meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans initiative last week in Podgorica, ahead of the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat.

The meeting brought together representatives of the European social democratic community, including Members of the European Parliament, representatives of national parliaments, political foundations, parties, civil society organisations and experts from across Europe and the region.

The discussions focused on regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, the future of the European Union enlargement process, political developments in the region, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to the Just Transition in line with the goals of the EU Green Agenda.

A particular part of the discussion was dedicated to whether regional cooperation can still serve as a credible instrument of European integration, and how the European Union and candidate countries can restore political will and trust in the enlargement process.

The conference was organised by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies – FEPS, in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Foundation Max van der Stoel, the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, the Olof Palme International Center, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, the Karl Renner Institut, CeSPI, Progresiva and the S&D Group in the European Parliament, within the framework of the FEPS Enlargement Programme.

The conference was preceded by a gathering organised within the S&D Willy Brandt Programme, dedicated to the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

The Direction Europe Foundation was among the signatories of the joint document of the Friends of the Western Balkans initiative, reaffirming support for the continuation of the European Union enlargement process, the European perspective of the Western Balkans, the strengthening of the rule of law, democracy, regional cooperation and political responsibility in the European integration process.

The joint document particularly emphasised that European Union enlargement is not merely a technical matter of methodology, but above all a question of political will — both among EU Member States and candidate countries.

The signatories expressed support for Montenegro’s European path and its goal of becoming the 28th Member State of the European Union by 2028, while underlining that the final phase of negotiations must be based on credible reforms, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, judicial independence, anti-corruption policies and the functioning of democratic institutions.

The Direction Europe Foundation will continue to actively participate in regional and European initiatives that contribute to strengthening Serbia’s European perspective, democratic development, institutional cooperation and the connection of progressive actors in the region and across Europe.