Claudia Plakolm Embarks on Six-Day Tour of Western Balkan Nations

In a significant diplomatic move, the Austrian Minister for Europe, Claudia Plakolm, has commenced a six-day journey through the candidate countries of the European Union located in the Western Balkans. The tour began in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, where she is scheduled to meet with her counterpart, Orhan Murtezani, on Sunday afternoon. Following her visit to North Macedonia, Plakolm will continue her tour through Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluding her trip on Friday.

This visit marks a continuation of Austria's commitment to the EU enlargement process, echoing the footsteps of former Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who conducted a similar tour in early 2016. Despite the passage of a decade, many of these nations still await their EU membership, although Montenegro and Albania are optimistic about achieving full membership by 2030. The accession prospects for the remaining four nations remain uncertain for various reasons.

The Austrian government is a staunch advocate for the swift integration of Western Balkan states into the European Union. However, there is a pressing need for local persuasion, as public sentiment in Austria tends to be skeptical regarding EU expansion. Political analysts and experts believe that Austria stands to gain economically from the accession of these Balkan nations, which are already important trade partners. Furthermore, the strong diaspora presence from these countries within Austria fosters a deep societal connection.

Accompanying Minister Plakolm on her tour is Christoph Neumayer, the Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV). On the agenda for Sunday is a visit to a collaboration project involving Austrian fire departments and the Tyrol region in North Macedonia. This initiative aims to support fire brigades in cities such as Ohrid, Debrca, Tetovo, and Kumanovo through equipment and training. Following the delivery of a fire truck in spring 2024, five additional fire vehicles were handed over in mid-September. The project's ultimate goal is to establish a volunteer firefighter system in North Macedonia.

Additionally, Plakolm plans to visit the Holocaust Memorial Center in Skopje, which commemorates the 7,144 Jewish victims from North Macedonia. This visit holds particular significance as it occurs just before the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, scheduled for October 7. Furthermore, the minister intends to stop by the Mother Teresa Memorial House, recognizing the life of the renowned Roman Catholic nun of Albanian descent, who was born in Skopje in 1910 and became globally celebrated for her humanitarian work in Kolkata, India. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonized in 2016.

On the itinerary for Monday is a visit to the EVN company in Skopje, after which Plakolm will travel to the capital of Kosovo, Prishtina.