Western Balkans Quad
WB QUAD
TypeIntergovernmental organization
MembershipAlbania
Kosovo
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Establishment
• Founded
29 March 2023

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]

History

The 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 disagreements over US and EU sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.[8]

Meetings

NoDateHost countryHost cityChair
129 March 2023 North MacedoniaSkopjeBujar Osmani

Aims

The 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

At launch, the WB QUAD had four founding members:[10]

See also

References

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