President of the Republic of Slovenia at the SEECP summit: Towards a stable, inclusive and European future for South East Europe

At the plenary session, the President confirmed Slovenia's firm commitment to regional cooperation and dialogue among friends and expressed strong support for the enlargement of the European Union. "As a member of the European Union, we remain committed to enlargement and expect all candidate countries to carry out the necessary reforms," she said.

In light of current challenges, she highlighted the significant development gap between the Western Balkans and EU member states, noting that GDP per capita in the region amounts to only one-fifth of the European average. "This is not just a statistic, but reflects the huge differences in opportunities, living standards and prospects, especially for young people in the region," she stressed. She also highlighted the importance of the common regional market as an effective tool for economic convergence and social development. "Our economic ties are already strong – now is the time to forge even closer ones," she added. The President firmly believes that more attention should also be paid to the sustainable aspects of development in the future. She emphasised that for Slovenia, the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU is not merely a question of economic benefits, but a strategic necessity for the region as a whole. "The EU offers a framework of values, standards and opportunities that can truly transform our societies for the better."

The President also paid particular attention to the security aspects of cooperation and the need for greater resilience of the region to cross-border threats, including cyberattacks. She highlighted the Slovenian initiative to establish a Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre in cooperation with Montenegro and France, which contributes significantly to strengthening security in the region.

She concluded by emphasising that SEECP is a key forum for strengthening trust, accelerating integration into the EU and building a stable future, prosperity and peace for all people in South East Europe. "Together, we can bridge the gap and take advantage of all the opportunities this amazing region has to offer," she concluded.

At the meeting, the SEECP leaders adopted a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The South East European Cooperation Process remains a key political platform for regional cooperation based on equality, inclusiveness and the responsibility of the countries of the region for their common future.

The leaders particularly emphasised the importance of EU enlargement as a foundation for peace, stability and prosperity, and highlighted the importance of reforms, respect for European values and the principle of own merits on the path to EU membership. They also supported new EU initiatives such as the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Common Regional Market Action Plan, which strengthen economic integration and sustainable development.

They reaffirmed their commitment to effective multilateralism and respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations as guiding principles in addressing all threats to international peace and security. They strongly condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid.

In addition to the host, the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, the SEECP summit in Tirana was attended by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev; the Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović; the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović; the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani Sadriu; the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Đuro Macut; and representatives of the governments of the Hellenic Republic; the Republic of Croatia; the Republic of Moldova; Romania; and the Republic of Turkey. On the margins of the summit, the President of Slovenia also held a bilateral meeting with Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).