TANJA FAJON: FULL SPEED TOWARDS 2030.

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 8 (ONASA) – Last week, Slovenia hosted the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), a conference known for its traditional discussions on the Western Balkans. Although this year the talks clearly surpassed regional attention and reached a global reach, the future of the Western Balkans within the EU remained in focus. The idea presented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michael, that the EU and the Western Balkans should be ready for enlargement by 2030 echoed loudly. The so-called “pale promise” did not leave anyone indifferent, but it left everyone wondering if both sides could be ready for expansion by that date.
My answer to all these questions is clear: the opportunity is there and we need to seize it at full speed. We need to work on finding enough political will in the Western Balkans for reforms and the political will of the EU for enlargement. We should focus on the final destination, but we must not neglect the journey either.
When it comes to the European Union, EU enlargement is clearly back on the agenda. The geopolitical picture clearly shows that there is no alternative to EU enlargement. The war in Ukraine increased appetites for enlargement and confirmed the idea that enlargement is a strategic necessity for the EU.
Simply put – now or never.
Of course, this does not mean that the criteria for EU enlargement will be discarded and that the Western Balkans could enter the Union without fulfilling them. This means that more political attention will be paid to the region and that expediency will be demanded from the countries of the Western Balkans.
For the EU, this means an obligation to reform its decision-making process and to prepare, institutionally and financially. The EU with more than 30 member states at the table simply cannot be as effective as it should be. This kind of reform will not be an easy task, but it is necessary. And this is of strategic importance for the EU, on the same level of importance as enlargement.
Skeptics will argue that these tasks seem very difficult to solve by 2030. However, the realistic view is that there will be no better offer on the table for the countries of the Western Balkans and a better opportunity for the Union to improve and adapt to the new global realities.
In Bled, I discovered the formula for the future EU 2030, called “3E by 3E” in English, which encompasses these goals. In 2030, the EU should be more engaged in the world, enlarged by the Western Balkans and our eastern partners, and should develop a more efficient decision-making process. The EU should approach these processes with eagerness, expedience and based on experience. I believe there is nothing much to add.
The coming years will not be all about perception and deception.
These will be years of hard work on both sides, the Western Balkans and the EU, in order to prepare both sides for EU enlargement by 2030.
These difficult times will require courageous leaders on both sides. Leaders who will look to the future. Leaders who will be prepared to put enlargement at the top of their agenda and who will make the decisions that will allow enlargement to happen. This is why the European elections will be an important turning point for the 2030 goal.
Regardless of the elections, the Western Balkans can always count on Slovenia. We will continue to be strong advocates of the EU enlargement process at full speed. A friend of the region for better or for worse. For example, Slovenia is already advocating in the EU for the opening of accession negotiations with BiH by the end of this year.
Time will tell if President Michael gave a historic speech in Bled. I hope that the “Bled promise” will come true because of our magical Bled. The place where the beautiful alpine landscape meets the crystal clear lake water is the best place where miracles happen