EU to help Western Balkans reforms with 6 billion euro package - von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference, in Skopje, North Macedonia October 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The European Union plans to help the countries of the Western Balkans to pursue reforms needed for integration with the wealthy bloc with 6 billion euros investment, the EU executive's president Ursula von der Leyen said in Skopje on Monday.

North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina all need to seize the "window of opportunity" for the enlargement of the EU and work to align their standards to those in the bloc, von der Leyen said.