The European Union welcomes the Western Balkans countries' efforts to empower democracy and the rule of law, anti-corruption fight and the respect of human and gender rights, the bloc's draft declaration to be discussed during the Summit in Zagreb on May 6, says, N1 reports.

 At the same time, the Western Balkans’ leaders are asked to strictly respect the fundamental values, democratic principles and the rule of law despite the emergency measures introduced to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

“Social transformation and efficient implementation of the reforms rest on those foundations,” the draft said, adding that the independent media and civil society had a crucial role in the democratisation process.

The European leaders reiterated their full support of the European perspective of the regional countries, which said that view was their strategic goal.

“The increase of aid will be linked to  progress in the rule of law and social-economic reforms, as well as to the regional partners’ dedication to the EU values, rules and standards,” the draft declaration added,

It called on the strengthening of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations and added that additional efforts should be put into the reconciliation process and the solution of the bilateral issues from the past.

The draft document recalls huge aid the EU institutions have delivered or have prepared for the region from a billion Euro form Brussels budget to the lifting of the ban of EU's export of medical material and the supply of coronavirus checking tests.

It added that after the crisis “a new phase of close cooperation in overcoming the consequences,” will take place.

That, according to the draft document, means that the European Commission will come out with a healthy economic and investment plan to boost the regional economies, improve their competitiveness for better linkage with the EU.

The Western Balkans are advised to transform the economics and adjust them to the EU common market, improve the business environment and strengthen the rule of law in that area.

The EU leaders also called for stronger cooperation regarding security issues such as fighting terrorism, preventing illegal arms trade, illegal migration, and taking decisive measures against human and drugs trafficking.

The leaders also stressed the importance of curbing disinformation, especially those coming from the third countries with an aim to divert the region from the process of reforms needed for joining the EU and from full adjustment with the EU foreign policy.