The European Union's chief executive sought on Wednesday to reassure the six Balkan membership hopefuls that they were family who would one day join the bloc after cooler comments from EU states fearing a backlash at home over migration.
After weeks of deliberation, EU leaders will agree a summit declaration restating an 18-year-old promise of future membership to Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania if they fulfil the criteria.
"We share the same history. We share the same values, and I'm deeply convinced we share the same destiny too," she said, having just returned from a tour of the region last week. "I advocate for a lack of fear on the EU's side, and a lack of bitterness on the side of the Balkans," he added. "I am still hopeful".
"If the European Union does not offer this region a real perspective, we have to be aware that other superpowers - China, Russia or Turkey - will play a bigger role there. The region belongs to Europe geographically, and it needs a European perspective," Kurz said.
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