Dear Antonio, dear Madame President Metsola, dear colleagues,

let me begin by thanking Antonio for hosting us in Rome in July and for bringing us together again this morning here in New York.

The Friends of the Western Balkans share a simple conviction: the future of the region lies in the European Union.

But if we want this perspective to remain credible, it is not enough to keep talking about it. Strategic priorities are not measured by declarations. They are measured by results.

And we do have results.

Montenegro is approaching the final stages of its accession negotiations, while Albania has made significant progress as well. This matters not only for Podgorica and Tirana. Their success can demonstrate to the entire region that enlargement is alive, credible and capable of delivering.

But we must be equally frank about those who are not moving forward.

I visited North Macedonia in August and discussed the accession process in detail with Minister of Foreign Affairs Timčo Mucunski, and also with Prime Minister and President of North Macedonia.

North Macedonia has been waiting for too long. And the continued stagnation is not only their problem. It also undermines the strategic interests of the European Union in the region.

This is precisely where the Friends of the Western Balkans should make a difference. We should not be merely a forum for exchanging views or repeating our support for enlargement. We should identify concrete obstacles and, where possible, help remove them.

Credible enlargement requires responsibility on both sides.

Candidate countries must deliver on reforms, commitments and the resolution of problems that stand in the way of membership. But the European Union and its Member States must also ensure that the accession process remains fair, predictable and based on merit.

And let me be clear about the destination.

Full membership must remain our objective.

We should resist attempts to replace it with intermediate arrangements that blur the distinction between candidates and members.

At the same time, enlargement should not become a vehicle for institutional changes within the European Union on which Member States have not agreed.

In particular, we do not see enlargement as a reason to abolish unanimity in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The countries of the Western Balkans need a credible path towards membership. And when they meet the conditions, the European Union must be ready to keep its word.

Our role as Friends is not simply to applaud from the sidelines.

Our role is to help produce results.

Thank you.