Von der Leyen: Western Balkans must achieve energy independence from Russia

(Patria) - European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, addressing the GLOBSEC 2023 Forum in Bratislava, spoke about the European Union's expectations, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans.

She said that the war against Ukraine is a pivotal moment for Europe.

"It is, of course, an obvious attack on the principles of the UN Charter. Principles to which we have all collectively committed ourselves. But it is also a war against our values and a war against the idea of a united and free Europe. For the first time in our history, we are witnessing an attack on a country because that country wants to be part of the European family. It is Ukraine's sovereign decision - and the clearly expressed will of its people - to embrace the values of our Union. That is why they are fighting for our freedom and our values too. For democracy and the rule of law, freedom of speech and freedom to determine their own destiny. That is what Ukraine is fighting for - and that is what President Putin is trying to extinguish. President Putin wants to erase the peace we have collectively built since the end of World War II and later after the fall of the Iron Curtain. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the origin of this war. You here at the Globsec Forum have discussed the causes of this war.

Allow me to be clear, therefore. Russia started this unprovoked and unjustified war. It invaded Ukraine for no reason to wipe that country off the map of the world. Russia refuses to accept Ukraine as an independent state. But Ukraine's will to fight and be free has stunned the world. Its people are firmly convinced of where they belong. The people of Ukraine have been working for years to move their country towards the European Union and have once again, time and again, proven their courage and determination. We will never be able to show the same sacrifice and courage as the Ukrainian people. But we can and must stand firmly by their side," she stated.

She said that they want a just peace that will not reward the aggressor, but a peace that will respect the principles of the UN Charter and the right of the Ukrainian people to shape their future sovereignly.

"President Zelensky has said this very clearly. A ceasefire that results in a frozen conflict will not bring lasting peace. After all, a ceasefire was established after 2014, and we know what happened to that Agreement last February when Russia invaded. A ceasefire would be inherently unstable and would destabilize the region along the contact line. No one would invest, nor rebuild, and the conflict could erupt again at any moment. No. A just peace must be the result of the withdrawal of Russian forces and their equipment from Ukrainian territory. President Zelensky has proposed a peace formula that we wholeheartedly support. Every single one of his 10 points is based on the UN Charter and resolutions. He has called on countries around the world to join and contribute to this peace formula. Therefore, the rules-based order is our starting point for peace.

A just peace for Ukraine must also be lasting. And for peace in Ukraine to be lasting, it must be strengthened in two key ways: The first involves long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. I welcome the ongoing discussions on how to guarantee Ukraine's security. There are various models and historical examples that can be used. The sum of such guarantees provided by like-minded states can offer what some have called 'deterrence by denial'. In other words, by providing Ukraine with military equipment to protect itself from future Russian attacks.

What is important is that things are clear in the end. That it is clear that Ukraine's friends will remain committed to its security in the long term. Such an arrangement with security guarantees must be accompanied by a broader framework of democratic reforms in Ukraine. Here, Ukraine's path to accession to our Union will play a fundamental role. Although everyone was aware that we were embarking on a challenging journey, we granted Ukraine candidate status. That was the right thing to do. Now we must stand by it at every step of that journey. The fact is that even as they fight for survival, Ukrainians are adopting key reforms to strengthen their democracy. Ukraine continues to progress towards our Union against all odds. And we will continue to do our part and bring Ukraine much closer and much faster to a just and lasting peace," she added.

Regarding the Western Balkans, Von der Leyen said that there is a new awareness in the EU today.

"We finally understand that it is not enough to simply wait for our friends outside the Union to come closer to us. It is not enough to say that the door is open. We must also take responsibility for bringing the countries that wish to become members much closer to our Union. The tremors sent by Putin's war of aggression have also reached our six partners in the Western Balkans. But this has only brought us closer together. We have offered the Western Balkans the same solidarity measures that we have adopted within our Union. We have supported vulnerable households to overcome high energy costs. We are building new infrastructure to reduce the Western Balkans' dependence on Russian fossil fuels. This practical cooperation has taken place in parallel with progress on the path to the EU. Recent tensions are, of course, a cause for concern. I join the calls for all sides to step back from confrontation and take measures to de-escalate the situation. Today, I want to present a new initiative to seize this important moment in the region. It is about a new growth plan for the Western Balkans. We want to build on the progress made in recent months. But we also want to bring some of the benefits of EU membership to the people of the Western Balkans today. The growth plan we are proposing today is based on four pillars: First - bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU's single market. Second - deepening regional economic integration. Third - accelerating fundamental reforms. And fourth - increasing pre-accession funds. This is, to some extent, a new approach for the European Union: We are not only asking our partners to take new steps towards us. We are also taking big steps towards them. Our common goal is to accelerate their approximation to the EU, and for this purpose, we are bringing our Union closer to the Western Balkans.

Allow me to briefly present these four points. For all countries that joined the EU in the past two decades, the main driver of economic growth has been access to the single market. But countries that are already on a promising path towards the EU should also benefit from our single market. For example, the Western Balkans could join our digital single market in areas such as e-commerce and cybersecurity. We could facilitate trade in goods and payment transactions. I want our single market to be a driver of change, not only for countries that have already joined the family, but also for those that are still on their way to joining.

This closer connection to our single market should go hand in hand with a common regional market. A common regional market is key to unlocking the region's economic potential. It is crucial for the Western Balkans to become a more attractive place for European investors. And, if based on EU rules and standards, this common regional market can also accelerate accession to our Union. We want to offer the Western Balkans some of the benefits of membership in advance. However, this also means that some membership requirements must be met in advance. Some of the reforms from the accession process are crucial for investor confidence. Think about building an independent and efficient judiciary, ensuring sound public procurement, and strengthening the fight against corruption. Or think about the energy market. The Western Balkan region has enormous potential for diversification away from Russian fossil fuels. But it must increase energy efficiency, enhance diversification, and accelerate the deployment of renewable sources. The Western Balkans can achieve both: energy independence from Russia and closer alignment with the European Union to accelerate accession.

In conclusion, I have a clear message. We are ready to support the Western Balkans by increasing pre-accession funding. The Western Balkans urgently need investments. These investments will improve people's lives. They will also facilitate the path to our Union. For this reason, we need to increase the resources allocated to the Western Balkans. In these turbulent times, this 4-point plan is the right offer for the Western Balkans. Ladies and gentlemen, history is in motion. Putin wanted to seize Ukraine for Russia. He calculated that the European Union would simply accept it. Instead, Ukraine bravely resisted and is pushing him back. And we in Europe, rightly and steadfastly, stand with Ukraine. Let us embrace this crucial historical moment. And we must persevere on this path. Ukraine will emerge stronger from this war. Huge crowds of people are waving European flags in Moldova and Georgia, where the desire for a place in the European Union burns strongly. The Western Balkans and the Union are getting closer and closer. This is a moment to be seized to build a more united Europe," stated Von der Leyen.