The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs toured from April 13th to 18th the Balkan countries for working visits in Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A visit to Albania will follow later when the new embassy will be opened there.
The first stop was Montenegro, a country that is expected to join the EU very soon. The minister met with Minister of foreign affairs (MFA) Ervin Ibrahimović, President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, he also visited the company BESIX, a residental building constructor, in Lustica Bay.
To realise its European ambitions, Montenegro must still make progress on judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and the resolution of bilateral disputes, including those with Croatia, Prévot said. (BelgaNews)
In Serbia, the minister remarked the 140 years of bilateral relations and the strong presence of Belgian companies. He met President Aleksandar Vučić, MFA Marko Đurić and visited the Belgian company Metech, daughter company of Belgian Metes-Metech, contract manufacturers for sheet metal.
His message was that while reaffirming that the EU’s doors remain open, further progress must be grounded in “credible and measurable reforms”, reflecting Belgrade’s slower pace on key issues and tougher ties with Brussels.
Next stops was North Macedonia. It is the first high level visit since a long time. Meetings took place with MFA Timčo Mucunski, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, the President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and others.
Belgium has supported the country by treating patients in a special clinic after the Kočani disaster.
The Minister visited the Canadian company Linamar. The company has recently acquired the Macedonian activities of Duro who retracts from the country due to several problems including lower demand from their clients.
A picture from this visit made by Belga can be found free of charge here.
The Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed the excellent bilateral relations.
Remarkable was also the run of the Ministers Timčo Mucunski and Maxim Prévost through Skopje in the morning. The Macedonian minister posted on Facebook that the run was a great opportunity for the guest to get to know the capital.
The BMBC board participated at a private reception with the minister.
In Kosovo, the minister met with MFA Glauk Konjufca, interim President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. He also visited the Belgian KFOR troops.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, he had meetings with Members of the Presidency, the Chairwomen of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto and the High Representative Christian Schmidt. There was no personal meeting with the MFA but a phone call.
There was no communication about the exchange with the High Representative or the other state representatives. There has been a statement and a picture on their last meeting in 2025 (Link). There has been communication about the meetings of the High Representative with the Austrian President a few days before. The discussion is ongoing about the justification of the role of the high representative, a role that the minister confirmed, as for the full Dayton framework.
That’s why, during my exchange with the deputy international High Representative, I underscored the continuing importance of the OHR mandate. Belgium reaffirms its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity or Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to respect for the constitutional framework established by the Dayton Accords.
Maxim Prévot
Also, the diplomatic formula about “excellent relations” is notably missing for this country visit, but the “warm welcome” formula was communicated by the BiH MFA.
The country is currently in a difficult situation as there are intentions of the Srpska Republika to break away from the country. The minister was after the Austrian president the second foreign official after the election defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary who supported a more independent Srpska Republika.
The minister also paid tribute to the Belgian soldiers who lost their lives while on duty in the country. Belgium is part of the EUFOR Althea military mission.
In Srebenica, the minister visited the Memorial Center.
Engaging with the Western Balkans is strategic for the security and the stability of our continent. The Western Balkans are not on Europe’s doorstep. They are in Europe. Their security is our security, their stability is our stability. Some of these countries have been waiting for more than twenty years to join the EU. It is therefore important to maintain a credible integration perspective, but the process remains merits-based: we expect them to have the courage to implement the necessary reforms, regarding the rule of law, the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and regional reconciliation.
Maxim Prévot
Official announcement and travel plan (in French language)
A separate visit to Albania was announced. Belgium will create an embassy and an ambassador position in the country, this in the context of the EU accession of Albania.
Belgium has an embassy in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. For North Macedonia, there is a honorary consul and Sofia is the competent embassy. For Montenegro, the competent embassy is Belgrade.
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