By Luiza Hoxhaj
When Albania hosted the EU–Western Balkans Summit for the
first time, it wasn’t just another diplomatic meeting. For my country, it was a
moment of global attention – a rare window into the international spotlight.
The red carpet in Tirana marked more than ceremonial formality; it represented
a long-awaited gesture of recognition, and for many Albanians, a source of
pride. It offered a window for public image
– a window for reshaping how Albania is seen, not only by its neighbors
but by Europe as a whole.
But as someone engaged in public policy and regional
development, I find it necessary to pause and ask: beyond this moment of
symbolic visibility, what did the Summit actually produce? Did it shift the
dynamics of EU–Western Balkans relations, or merely restate them with polished
language and renewed photo opportunities?
This reflection is not about diminishing what the event
represented. Rather, it’s about taking the symbolic value and asking whether it
was matched with strategic substance – particularly on one of the most critical
issues on the agenda: migration.
The summit unfolded amid pressing geopolitical tensions and a
deepening migration crisis – two factors that lent both urgency and complexity
to the discussions. Migration, in particular, featured prominently on the
agenda. But while the political language echoed partnership and solidarity,
concrete outcomes in terms of shared responsibility and systemic reform were
limited.
The migration issue once again revealed a familiar fracture
line between the EU's core and its periphery. The Western Balkans continue to
be viewed more as a buffer zone than as equal partners in managing European
migration dynamics. This echoes Mario Nuti's analysis in his dual essays on
Schengen and the European migration crisis, where he underscores the
inconsistencies and power asymmetries inherent in the EU's approach to shared
border and migration policy.
In that sense, the Tirana Summit offered more of a stage than
a strategy. Its significance lay in symbolism rather than systemic
transformation. Yes, there were reaffirmations of the European perspective for
the Western Balkans. Yes, connectivity and energy cooperation were mentioned.
And yes, the presence of European leaders in Tirana sent a powerful signal. But
the region needs more than signals.
What was missing was an honest reckoning with what the
Western Balkans truly represent in the European project: not just a space of
unfinished transitions, but a region capable of offering solutions, talent, and
resilience. A truly strategic summit would have acknowledged the limits of
conditionality-driven integration and opened the door to more equal co-creation
of European policy.
In the realm of migration, that would mean shifting from a
containment mindset to one of shared integration policies, investment in local
capacities, and responsible bilateral engagement. Countries like Albania, which
are already navigating complex migratory inflows and outflows, need more than
abstract promises. They need clarity, resources, and a voice at the decision-making
table.
Furthermore, the Summit should have amplified the Western
Balkans' potential role in the green and blue transitions, digital innovation,
and regional security. The exclusion of these discussions to secondary tiers of
diplomacy is a missed opportunity.
If the EU's goal is to stabilize, integrate, and empower its
neighborhood, then it must treat that neighborhood not as a problem to be
managed but as a partner to be embraced. Symbolic summits are not enough.
Tangible frameworks, co-owned roadmaps, and mutual recognition of political
maturity are essential.
Tirana will be remembered for its red carpet moment. But history will ask what followed after the carpet was rolled back.
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