European Union enlargement in the Western Balkans will have to be sustainable and accelerated in the next five years but also grounded on the assessment of readiness to objective criteria for every country, European Commission's incoming President Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to new Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.

In the letter she sent on November 7, Von der Leyen said that the enlargement process must maintain its credibility and that her Commission will support the current Commission's proposal to start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

She also noted that the European perspective for the Western Balkans helped to overcome the historic divisions and to start essential political and economic reforms.

“You should work on accelerating the structural and institutional reforms, keeping the strong focus on the foundations of the rule of law, economic growth and the public administration reform. I expect you to support all efforts in the fight against corruption in the whole region and all the efforts towards the good neighbourly relations and solving the mutual disputes,” the President was quoted as saying.

Von der Leyen also said she expected all commissioners to demonstrate the highest degree of transparency and ethical work.