Albania is once again hosting a significant regional and international event: the Summit on the Growth Plan, titled “Our Pathway to the EU”, which brings together leaders from the Western Balkans, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, senior representatives from the European Commission, as well as from regional organizations. The summit will focus on the Growth Plan, economic integration, and the region’s transformation toward integration with the European Union Single Market. The plan aims to promote a favorable environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological progress, creating new opportunities for sustainable development and boosting competitiveness—foundations for long-term growth and the Western Balkans’ convergence with the European Union.
Prime Minister Edi Rama will host regional leaders from Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, along with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana. The summit will feature two panel discussions:1. “Shaping new initiatives with benefits for citizens and businesses”
2. “Fulfilling joint commitments – Results and acceleration”
During these sessions, the Western Balkans Roadmap will be launched. Discussions will cover the region’s positioning within the EU AI ecosystem, green lanes, cooperation in the tourism sector, progress toward the regional common market, and the next steps forward.
At the start of the summit, Prime Minister Edi Rama and EU Commissioner Marta Kos will both deliver opening remarks. At the conclusion of the summit, they will hold a joint press conference.
The Western Balkans represent a region rich in cultural heritage, with a central geostrategic position and significant economic and human potential. The path to EU membership remains the primary political and developmental focus for these countries. Strengthening the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU Single Market holds deep transformative power. This common market fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement, creating new prospects for sustainable development and competitive growth. As such, it is a key pillar for long-term development and for the region’s gradual alignment with the standards and economic dynamism of the European Union.
