&lt;p>EU and Western Balkan leaders meet in Brussels ahead of the June European Council meeting. Leaders discuss progress on EU integration and the challenges stemming from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.&lt;/p>

EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting: arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President It's a historic day for two reasons. First of all, because today, this morning, we have the Western Balkans summit. And I would like to say a few words on behalf of the European Parliament. Enlargement has always been seen as a transformative process for countries that want to look to Europe as their home.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President And therefore, today is a day when we really should start negotiations on the accession accession negotiations of North Macedonia and Albania. We should really start to talk about granting visa liberalisation to Kosovo.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President These are the points that I will make inside the summit, because this is a day when we also need to look at the Western Balkans as countries that are neighbouring ours and countries that should find a place in the European Union which is their home because they are neighbours to ours.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President Well, I think today's is the time when enlargement should be used in times of war, and it should be seen as a way for the European Union to establish its geopolitical security situation. So in order for us to prevent malign interferences by third countries who have different interests to the fundamental values that we have in the European Union then Today is the day.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President And I agree with you. I have spoken to many Georgians throughout the year, over the past few days and weeks. The language in the Council conclusions open a path for Georgia. It is something that the European Parliament has said from day one that we need to accept all three countries as candidate countries. And that wording would be reflected in today's decisions in the European Council.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President Today is also, of course, a historic and specific day because we have a war on our continent and we will be granting candidate status, at least, I hope, to Ukraine and Moldova a day where I thought we would wait much longer and then have it on our paper. And I really welcome the unity and the leadership of the European Union on this.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President This is something that I will also be bringing forward today, this afternoon at the European Council. And it is something that I will ask on behalf of the Parliament that we look at our treaties and see what can be opened and what not. Thank you very much.

EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting: arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

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