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Europe Today : Costa s’exprime en exclusivité sur Euronews lors du sommet UE–Balkans occidentaux
Paris et Berlin plaident pour un élargissement progressif, thème au cœur de notre entretien avec António Costa, président du Conseil européen.
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Paris et Berlin plaident pour un élargissement progressif, thème au cœur de notre entretien avec António Costa, président du Conseil européen.
LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/06/05/europe-today-costa-en-exclusivite-sur-euronews-pendant-le-sommet-ue-balkans-occidentaux
Abonnez-vous à notre chaine. Euronews est disponible sur Dailymotion en 12 langues
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01:00Plus, EU justice ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss whether or not to extend the legal protection of Ukrainian
01:07men of military age who are currently living inside the European Union.
01:11EU sources told Euronews that a formal proposal will come out soon.
01:16But first, up to 30 European heads of state are meeting in Tivat, Montenegro today with leaders from Western Balkan
01:22countries.
01:23The gathering is set to push EU enlargement up the list of priorities.
01:27For the latest, we can go now live straight to the town of Tivat in Montenegro, where our Europe editor,
01:32Maria Tadeo, is this morning for us.
01:34Great to have you with us, Maria. So it's a big day for the Balkans.
01:38But what's exactly happening beyond, of course, the photo ops and the handshakes?
01:43Well, of course, morning, Maeve.
01:46This summit is now about to start between European Union leaders, of course, and the Western Balkan countries.
01:52This is an important day for Montenegro.
02:00And we seem to be having technical difficulties there speaking to Maria Tadeo, but don't worry, we'll bring you back,
02:05we'll go back to Maria a little bit later in the programme.
02:07But now we can actually play her exclusive interview with the EU Council President, that's, of course, Antonio Costa.
02:13This summit is coming in a very important momentum, when clearly Montenegro is doing very well.
02:22We have already approved the working party to start drafting the accession treaty.
02:28Last week, we have a new intergovernmental conference with Albania, and the Commission this week proposed to close three chapters
02:38in the Albanian negotiations.
02:39We will discuss new proposals to accelerate this process, to avoid precisely this idea that we are not going so
02:50well, because it's not the reality.
02:52But it's very important to increase the trust in the European Union and increase also the motivation in the candidate
03:00state to be very clear that we are moving forward and we want to deliver on this process.
03:06And you mentioned Montenegro. Of course, we've been in the streets of this beautiful town, and they all say it's
03:1228 by 28.
03:13They believe they will hit this deadline. Is that the case when you've had your conversations bilateral this week?
03:19Well, they are doing very well.
03:22Now it's possible to close half the chapters before summer, and then we have three very hardworking months to try
03:31to close by the end of this year.
03:33And of course, in 2027, the first half of the year, we are more focused on the electoral election, election
03:42elections in different countries.
03:43But for sure, the second part of the year, we can come back on this issue.
03:48And if everything is okay, it will be possible. It's not impossible to be the 28th member states in 2028.
03:58And, President, some would argue because enlargement is now needed, and you say it yourself, it is a geopolitical imperative.
04:05Some suggest the time to really think outside of the box has really come.
04:10Enlargement will be about merit, but maybe perhaps it's time to look at solutions as reverse membership, perhaps step-by
04:17-step membership has been signaled.
04:19There's the idea of joining without a veto. What's thinking outside the box for you?
04:23There are different things. First, the process is merit-based and will remain merit-based.
04:31Other thing is to simplify the proceedings. Perhaps you can reduce the moments when we take decisions.
04:38To streamline it.
04:39To streamline it. This is one thing.
04:41Other thing, finally, is the transitional period.
04:46We learn from the previous enlargement process that we always adopted transitional clauses on policies like agriculture, freedom of movement,
04:59and so on.
05:00And now, because we are talking about a very challenging enlargement, perhaps we need also transitional clauses on institutional matters.
05:10But it's early to discuss this, but it's important, for instance, President Vucic and Prime Minister Rama came publicly some
05:21months ago proposing some ideas.
05:24Chancellor Mertz also, and for sure we will discuss a proposal from France and Germany to simplify the proceedings to
05:36move forward in this enlargement process.
05:39What it says to me is that there is an appetite to explore different solutions.
05:44Is that something that you also feel?
05:46This, perhaps there's not a landing zone yet, but ultimately that is a direction of travel.
05:51All of these discussions about the proceedings, about the transitional period, about the simplification, our rules to work,
06:02all of these shows, our common ambition to deliver as soon as possible in this enlargement process.
06:09This shows the really willing will of the member states and also the candidates to join the EU and to
06:19achieve this enlargement.
06:20And, President, you have been on a tour of the region, you were in Serbia, you spoke with the Serbian
06:26president, Aleksandr Vucic.
06:27Of course, this is a country that is fundamental when you look at the Western Balkans, but some would argue,
06:32and the commission says it openly,
06:34that not only the process is now moving ahead, there's actual serious backsliding in fundamental questions like the judiciary, the
06:40media, as you cited.
06:41These are key parts of a democracy. What was your one-on-one conversation with Aleksandr Vucic?
06:47It's true that last January they stepped back on the judiciary, but now they are changing the law.
06:53Are you confident they will do it this time?
06:55They are doing, and they are full committed to comply with the recommendations from the Venice Commission.
07:05The Venice Commission has a meeting the next 12th of June, and immediately after, they will approve the new law
07:14to correct what they made in last January on the judiciary.
07:20And do you trust that President Vucic will do it this time around?
07:23Because some would argue there has been many promises made in the past, but actually not delivered.
07:27When you sat down with him privately, did you make it clear?
07:30It's you now that needs to move.
07:31It's not a matter of faith. It's very simple.
07:35They know what they need to do, and we are here to verify if they do or if they don't
07:40do.
07:41If they do, we move forward. If they don't do, we're still blocked.
07:44My conviction, as everybody understood, is there remains a problem with the body who needs to regulate the freedom of
07:54press.
07:56And this is an ongoing process with the civil society and with the government.
08:01And you stress that to him?
08:02Yes, of course.
08:03And just on a different final point now, of course, this week there have been major developments when it comes
08:09to Ukraine and Moldova,
08:12also by extension, on their negotiations, opening these formal talks.
08:16Now Hungary has dropped that veto.
08:18What does that mean for the European Union and ultimately for the three countries?
08:21I think it's very important, first of all, for the bilateral relations between Hungary and the Ukraine.
08:28And the prime minister Magyar announced that he believed that in three weeks they are in conditions to release the
08:38veto and we can move forward.
08:41We are very advanced and I believe that it's possible to open and at the same time close immediately several
08:48chapters because they have already done what they need to do to close the chapters.
08:55This is a huge symbolic moment for Ukraine.
08:57This process had been stuck for three years.
09:00This is, if it happens and materializes, is the start of something new.
09:04What does that say to you?
09:05Where is this union going?
09:07Does it mean it's a return to 27 unanimity?
09:09What do you read politically out of this?
09:11Look, I personally, I believe that we don't need to have the unanimity to open chapters and clusters.
09:19We just need the unanimity to close chapters and clusters.
09:24Secondly, that the bilateral issues should be, must be addressed for the different countries in order to don't block an
09:37entire process.
09:38And it's very positive that the prime minister Magyar gave this clear sign that we are now leading with a
09:46new government, with a new policy in Hungary and with a new attitude of Hungary in the European Union.
09:54And just last thing, in your final summit with Viktor Orban in attendance, you said nobody can blackmail the European
10:00Council.
10:00Do you feel validated?
10:01Well, the Hungarians understood if Viktor Orban believed that someone in the Hungary will rewind him for trying to block
10:14a decision of the European Council, he was wrong.
10:18Well, President Costa, thank you so much for joining us.
10:21Thank you.
10:24Our Maria Tadeo there, speaking exclusively to Antonio Costa as that Western Balkan summit gets underway today in Tivat Montenegro.
10:32And we can actually bring in Maria Tadeo now as those leaders are gathering.
10:36Maria, tell us what is happening.
10:39Good morning, Maven.
10:41Of course, technical difficulties because you see ultimately this helicopter that is hovering around this town repeatedly now for almost
10:48two days.
10:48There's a lot of jamming because ultimately you have more than 35 leaders if you combine the EU institutions and
10:54the Western Balkans gathering here on an important day with Montenegro.
10:57Because, as I say, multiple diplomats from this country insisting, talking to you and you're saying this will be 28
11:03by 28, 28 member states by 2028.
11:07And you saw from that interview with the head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, telling us this is a
11:12merit-based process.
11:13It will always be, but some of those rules need to be simplified, picking up on that point, the French
11:19and the Germans.
11:20Now, laying out the scene for a discussion today here in which they will, quote, quote, call for a more
11:26structured, gradual integration of these candidates to motivate them to reform.
11:31The more they do, the more progress they make, the more benefits diplomats say they will be able to tap,
11:37including, by the way, access to the single market.
11:39And that is key because the single market is the moneymaker for the European Union.
11:45Just very briefly, for our viewers, the leaders confirmed to participate.
11:49The Serbian president, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Aleksandar Vucic would join the summit.
11:55We are told he is here. He landed yesterday.
11:58The leader who will not be, and there was also speculation about him, is the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter
12:03Magyar.
12:03We're not expecting him to participate at the summit.
12:06But, of course, he is one of the big protagonists with that breakthrough over with Ukraine, Maeve.
12:11OK, Maria Steyo, thank you so much for that live broadcast there.
12:14And, of course, for more of Maria's reporting there on the ground, you can visit Euronews.com or keep an
12:19eye on Euronews TV for her various interviews throughout the day.
12:22But now we can actually zoom into more about why the Western Balkans are so strategically important for Brussels.
12:28Our reporter, Jakob Janis, has this report.
12:33Top EU chiefs are gathering in TIVAT, Montenegro, for the EU Western Balkans summit.
12:38And Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo are at various stages of trying to join the
12:47bloc.
12:47And that's cool, but your reporter is curious.
12:50With the EU already struggling to manage 27 member states, what's the point of Brussels pushing for enlargement right now?
12:58Let's see the map, because geographically the region is completely surrounded by the EU.
13:03And for nearly two decades, a period of relative calm kept enlargement on the back burner.
13:09But Russia's invasion of Ukraine shattered that piece, turning EU expansion into a critical security priority.
13:16But it's also about money.
13:18Look, the EU is already the region's primary trading partner and investor.
13:22And only last year, the total trade reached over 87 billion euros.
13:27And we're talking about a massive two-way exchange of heavy machinery, chemicals and metals flowing back and forth across
13:34the border.
13:34And hear me out on that.
13:36The EU exported far more than it imported, running a handsome profit.
13:41Yet, the EU is not the only power eyeing the region.
13:44Oh no.
13:44Brussels faces immense outside pressure, because Moscow, Beijing and Washington are all actively competing for strategic influence there.
13:53So if Europe leaves power vacuum on its doorstep, others will gladly fill it.
13:57And the region has already become a new front line for geopolitical tensions.
14:02It is most visible in Serbia, where the government refuses to align with EU sanctions against Moscow.
14:07Finally, EU capitals fear adding more nations will paralyze decision-making under the current voting rules.
14:14This is why Albania and Serbia proposed a phased integration, temporarily waiving their veto rights just to get through the
14:21door.
14:21And as European Council chief Antonio Costa travels around the region, Brussels is no longer driven by an idealistic dream
14:28of European unity.
14:30This is a cold calculation to secure borders.
14:33Because if the EU doesn't act, the alternative is a region politically dependent on Russia, economically reliant on Chinese investment,
14:40or potentially turned into the 51st state of the US.
14:44Yes, as it was already suggested with Greenland, or Iceland, or Canada.
14:48I mean, you get the point.
14:55Jakob Yanis there on the high stakes of that EU-Western Balkan summit that comes as protesters are flocking to
15:01the streets of neighbouring Albania
15:02to speak out against the construction of a $1.6 billion luxury resort backed by President Donald Trump's son-in
15:09-law, Jared Kushner.
15:10More on that story on euronews.com.
15:12But now, Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky has sent an open letter to the Russian president.
15:17In it, he says that Vladimir Putin is under pressure from his own people.
15:21He calls for a one-on-one meeting to end the war.
15:25The letter arrived as Putin was answering questions from the press in St. Petersburg.
15:29For more, we can bring in our Ukraine correspondent, Sasha Vakilina, who's on the move today.
15:33Good morning, Sasha. Thanks for joining us.
15:34It's quite an interesting read.
15:36Tell us more about this letter and what exactly prompted it.
15:41Absolutely, Maeve.
15:42It's been an unprecedented step for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
15:47Over four years ago, Vladimir Zelensky released the first open letter to Putin, addressing Russian president directly and personally with
15:59a very clear message, quote,
16:01the choice is yours now.
16:03Enough of war.
16:04Ukraine proposes to end this war.
16:07I am proposing a meeting, Zelensky said.
16:11Now, he also provided more details about the possible venue for the meeting.
16:15He said that Vladimir Putin spent over half of his 26 years' term as the leader of Russia waging the
16:21war against Ukraine.
16:22Therefore, there is nothing for Ukraine's president to do in Moscow, same way as there is nothing for Russian president
16:28to do in Kiev.
16:29Therefore, Zelensky said that the meeting could possibly take place in our mediating countries.
16:33That could be Switzerland, that could be Turkey, or that could be some of the Middle Eastern countries, he said.
16:39Now, Zelensky also commented on who else could be participating in this meeting, in this talk.
16:44He said that he would want to see the United States participating there because he said Washington is the one
16:49who can guarantee and participate in building the new security architecture in this part of the world.
16:54But also, he said, since the war is taking place in Europe, Zelensky believes that Europe has to be at
17:01that negotiating table and has to be present at the future meeting.
17:06But the message there, mate, is clear.
17:08He clearly and openly told Vladimir Putin, you can't stop your war.
17:14OK, Sasha, Vakilina, thank you so much for that live update there.
17:18Now, the ongoing war in Ukraine, confrontations with China over trade, a more hostile U.S. that no longer shares
17:24the interests of the EU and Europe's innovation problems.
17:27Just a glimpse of some of the serious matters being discussed today and yesterday at the Brussels Economic Security Conference
17:33hosted by the European Policy Centre.
17:36Our correspondent, Shona Murray, has been covering the event and moderating it as well and joins us now live this
17:41morning.
17:41Good morning, Shona.
17:42Just tell us what's on the agenda today.
17:46Well, good morning, Maeve.
17:47As we know, as you mentioned there, Europe is facing so many challenges on various fronts, not least, of course,
17:53the war in Ukraine and the urgent need for Europe to step up in investment when it comes to security
17:58and defence.
17:59We also have an acknowledgement across Europe and in Brussels here that the U.S. is no longer the reliable
18:04partner it used to be.
18:06So there needs to be a move away from interdependence with Chinese and United States tech.
18:11There's also overcapacity when it comes to Chinese exports.
18:14So in order to face these challenges, there needs to be massive scaling up of investment, because as we heard
18:20from the famous Mario Draghi report, Europe could be in mortal danger.
18:24And in order to speak about this, I'm joined by Nadia Calvino, President of the European Investment Bank.
18:29You're very welcome.
18:31Tell us, first of all, the AIB has really changed in the last couple of years because of the war
18:36in Ukraine and has started to invest, for example, in security and defence,
18:39and something that would have been maybe unheard of 10 years ago.
18:43Absolutely.
18:442025 has been a game changer for the AIB in this area.
18:48We have expanded the scope of the activities we finance so that now we are financing pure military, as well
18:54as funds and companies that are active in all areas of defence.
18:57And we have also increased the ceilings for these investments, so the investment has multiplied times four.
19:04And we are on track to meet our target this year of financing 5% of our total finance in
19:10the EU, devoting it to security and defence.
19:13And it's not, I suppose, direct kinetic goods that you're investing in, is it?
19:17Or what, how do you sort of get away with not providing directly bullets and guns and so on?
19:23What kind of investment in defence and so on?
19:25Well, Europe has massive needs, and the European Investment Bank is uniquely placed to finance large-scale infrastructures with long
19:33-term loans,
19:35also research and development, large-scale programs of leading companies, Thales or Indra in Europe, for example.
19:41Industrial capacity, we are financing quantum systems production of drones,
19:46and also financing small-sized companies that are supplying in the supply chain of large European contractors and the emerging
19:55ecosystem of private venture capital funds that are specialising in this area.
20:00Actually, in 2026, we are going to launch a new wave of financing capital injections in this area of investment
20:06funds.
20:06I mean, also, since the war in Ukraine, we've also noticed, we've not noticed, it's been a major issue as
20:11Europe's energy dependence on Russia initially,
20:14but also the implications of the closure of the Strait of Ormuz, getting gas and oil to the European continent.
20:20Tell us about the plans for Europeans' energy independence.
20:25Well, I think that in the last years in the war in Ukraine and now the escalation of the conflict
20:29in the Middle East send a very clear message to Europe,
20:32and that is we need to break free from our dependence on fossil fuels.
20:36It's clear, and the European Investment Bank, being the climate bank, is very well placed and is actually financing large
20:44-scale infrastructures,
20:45for example, grids, interconnectors.
20:47Half of the projects ongoing in Europe are financed by the EIB.
20:51Also, we're financing energy efficiency for SMEs, research and development of new fuels,
20:57clean tech autonomy and Europe's strategic autonomy and economic security in this area, solar, wind.
21:04And we are very well placed, I think.
21:07And what we see is also that there is a strong demand for EIB financing in this area.
21:12So I think that we will also hit a record this year in terms of financing for the clean transition
21:17to make it a European success.
21:19And the other piece that we heard from the European Commission this week is around tech sovereignty
21:22and the need for the EU and Europe to have its own access to the tech sector and tech services
21:28because of concerns around security.
21:30And that is going to be requiring massive scale-up on investment.
21:34Tell us about the plans for that and how quickly they can be done.
21:37Yeah, absolutely.
21:38Europe needs to have technological leadership and also autonomy when it comes to key components of these solar and wind
21:46infrastructures, for example.
21:47In that sense, we are moving quite fast.
21:50Only earlier this week, I was in Spain.
21:52We signed an important financing agreement for the research program of a company called Inge Team, present everywhere around the
21:59world, that produces solar inverters.
22:01And that allows us to scale up Europe's capacity in an area which is quite critical for the solar panel
22:08deployment.
22:09So from the European Investment Bank, we're supporting the approach of the European Commission and accompanying and joining the European
22:16Commission in ensuring that Europe becomes independent, not only when it comes to the fuel supply, but also when it
22:22comes to the technologies and industrial capacity.
22:24Okay, Nadia Clavigno, and you'll be speaking later on in the next hour or so here at the Brussels Economic
22:28Security Forum.
22:29Thank you very much for joining us on Euronews.
22:31And back to you, Maeve.
22:32Thank you so much, Shona Murray.
22:33And of course, Nadia Clavigno, the head of the EIB there.
22:36And thank you so much for tuning in to us this morning on Europe Today.
22:40For more news and analysis on that EU Western Balkan summit taking place in Tivat, Montenegro today, do stay with
22:46us here on Euronews or visit Euronews.com for longer reads.
22:50Take care.
22:50Thanks so much for tuning in and see you soon on Euronews.
23:44Euronews.
24:16Euronews.
24:48Euronews.
25:00Euronews.
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