The Western Balkans Quad (WB QUAD) is an initiative launched in March 2023 by four Western Balkan countries, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, to support policy alignment with the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy.[1][2]
Western Balkans Quad WB QUAD | |
|---|---|
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Membership | Albania Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia |
| Establishment | |
• Founded | 29 March 2023 |
History
editThe initiative was founded on 29 March 2023 in Skopje, North Macedonia by Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Kreshnik Ahmeti, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Olta Xhaçka, and the advisor for Foreign Policy of Montenegro, George Radulovic.[3][4] All four founding members aspire to join the European Union.
At the official launch, Osmani stated that "After the Russian aggression on Ukraine, alignment with the CFSP, but even beyond that, with the positions and values of the democratic world, has become one of the most important priorities of the aspiring EU member states, but also as a clear message for where these countries belong".[5]
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia did not join the new initiative.[6] Bosnia and Herzegovina was unable to join following objections from its Republika Srpska entity.[7] Serbia has not joined due to unwillingness to implement US and EU sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.[8]
Meetings
edit| No | Date | Host country | Host city | Chair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 March 2023 |  North Macedonia |
Skopje | Bujar Osmani |
Aims
editThe aim of the initiative is to facilitate participating states' alignment of their foreign policy with the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy particularly in regard to the energy crisis, economic consequences caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and hybrid threats they face.[9] The initiative's strapline is "100% alignment with EU Common Foreign Security Policy."
Members
editAt launch, the WB QUAD had four founding members:[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Four Western Balkan countries launched "100% Alignment with CFSP" platform". 29 March 2023.
- ^ https://twitter.com/Bujar_O/status/1640989673420992512
- ^ "Western Balkans: The initiative of the four countries was launched". 29 March 2023.
- ^ https://mia.mk/story/%E2%80%98western-balkans-quad-100-alignment-with-cfsp-platform-launched
- ^ "Four Western Balkan countries launched "100% Alignment with CFSP" platform". 29 March 2023.
- ^ "Macedonia joins the QUAD of Balkan countries that fully align their foreign policies with those of the EU". 31 March 2023.
- ^ https://twitter.com/admirim/status/1641002614497083400
- ^ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/four-western-balkan-countries-pledge-%E2%80%9C100percent-compliance%E2%80%9D-with-eu-foreign-policy/ar-AA19etwo?ocid=a2hs
- ^ "Four EU hopefuls, except Serbia, create group to align with EU security policy". 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Western Balkans: The initiative of the four countries was launched". 29 March 2023.