(ANSA) - BELGRADE, SEP 12 - Western Balkans leaders agreed at the Brdo-Brijuni summit in Slovenia on Monday about the urgency for the EU to grant Bosnia-Herzegovina EU candidate status and to introduce a visa-free travel regime for Kosovo. According to the conclusions of the summit, made public by the Slovenian President Borut Pahor on Twitter, Balkan leaders called "for granting the candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2022" and for the "removal of visa regime" for Kosovo.

Furthermore, they reiterated that "the EU enlargement policy as the most direct contributor to the maintenance of peace and stability in our region, and more than ever geopolitical issue." "We call for accelerated EU integration process, in line with the well established conditions for EU membership," the leaders agreed upon. Finally, they also urged the European Union to help the region to mitigate "the consequences of the looming economic and energy crisis." (ANSA).