Leaders from six Western Balkan nations gathered in London on October 22, 2025, alongside British and European officials, for a high-stakes summit aimed at addressing migration, security, and economic growth in a region that has long drawn the attention of both the European Union and Russia. The meeting, part of the Berlin Process launched in 2014, drew delegates from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, all countries still navigating the rocky path toward potential EU membership.
According to the Associated Press, the summit was convened against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tension, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has prompted the EU to reconsider its enlargement policy. The prospect of further instability in southeastern Europe, a region still haunted by the conflicts of the 1990s, has led Western leaders to prioritize engagement with the Balkans. The only nation from the region to have joined the EU so far is Croatia, which acceded in 2013, while the others remain at various stages of the accession process.
Despite having left the EU in 2020, the United Kingdom played host to this year’s summit at Lancaster House, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper leading the British delegation. The UK’s continued involvement in Balkan affairs underscores its ongoing interest in regional stability, particularly as it relates to migration and security. As reported by Sky News, the summit’s agenda centered on the UK government’s deportation plan and the broader issue of migrant returns—a topic described as being in a state of chaos by observers at the event.
Migration has become a pressing concern for both the EU and the UK, as hundreds of thousands of people have been smuggled through the Western Balkans into the EU in recent years. Britain, in particular, has seen a significant portion of migrants—about a quarter of those arriving in small boats across the English Channel—pass through this region. The British government has responded by forging closer ties with Balkan states, hoping to stem the flow of unauthorized migration and tackle the criminal networks behind the smuggling operations.
One notable success cited by British officials has been the joint task force with Albania. Through a combination of a returns agreement and targeted local projects in areas where migrants originate, the UK has managed to reduce the number of Albanian migrants attempting to reach Britain from 12,000 in 2022 to an estimated 600 in 2024. The UK has also deployed law enforcement officers to the region to collaborate with the EU border agency Frontex, aiming to disrupt the smuggling routes and bolster border security.
Yet, the summit revealed deep divisions over the British proposal to establish so-called "return hubs"—facilities where rejected asylum seekers could be held until they are deported. The idea, a particular priority for the British government, has met with strong resistance from Balkan leaders. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was unequivocal in his rejection of the plan, stating at London’s Chatham House on October 21, 2025, "When it comes to the hubs, or whatever they are called, I’ve said it, and I repeat—never in Albania." His firm stance reflects widespread domestic opposition to hosting such facilities, as well as concerns about the potential impact on Albania’s EU aspirations and social cohesion.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic took a somewhat more pragmatic, if tongue-in-cheek, approach. He noted that Montenegro is "not part of the migrant routes through the Balkans" due to its underdeveloped railway infrastructure, and added that his government might consider hosting a return hub only if Britain agreed to make a massive investment. "We might be willing to accept a migrant returns hub if Britain invests 10 billion euros into building railways," Spajic said, highlighting both the country’s infrastructure needs and its reluctance to become a holding ground for Europe’s rejected asylum seekers.
The summit’s focus on migration and security comes at a time when the EU’s attitude toward enlargement is shifting. Since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, there has been a renewed sense of urgency in Brussels to bring the Western Balkans closer to the European fold, both to stabilize the region and to counter Moscow’s influence. The Berlin Process, under which these summits are held, was designed to keep the prospect of EU membership alive for southeastern European countries, but progress has been slow and often stymied by unresolved disputes—most notably the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, remains at odds with its former province, and their strained relationship continues to complicate both countries’ EU ambitions. The summit in London offered an opportunity for dialogue, but no major breakthroughs were reported on this front. Instead, the spotlight remained firmly on migration and the challenges of managing the flow of people across a region that has become a key transit route for those seeking a better life in Western Europe.
Britain’s hosting of the summit, despite its departure from the EU, reflects a desire to remain engaged in European security issues and to play a constructive role in managing migration. Prime Minister Starmer’s center-left government has made it clear that tackling the drug trade, countering Russian interference, and curbing unauthorized migration from the Western Balkans are top priorities. The UK’s efforts to build on its partnership with Albania, deploy law enforcement resources, and push for the creation of return hubs are all part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of migrants reaching British shores via irregular routes.
However, as the summit made clear, the success of these initiatives depends on the willingness of Balkan states to cooperate—a willingness that is currently in short supply. The outright rejection by Albania and the conditional, almost sarcastic, response from Montenegro underscore the political sensitivities surrounding the issue. For many Balkan leaders, agreeing to host return hubs risks domestic backlash and could complicate their relations with the EU, which itself remains divided over how to handle migration and asylum policy.
Observers noted that the UK government’s deportation plan remains in a state of flux, with the summit exposing the limits of what can be achieved without broader consensus among the countries involved. As Sam Coates reported from Lancaster House for Sky News, the atmosphere at the summit reflected both the urgency of the migration crisis and the complexity of finding workable solutions that satisfy all parties.
As the dust settles on the London summit, the challenges facing the Western Balkans—and their European partners—are as daunting as ever. With migration pressures showing no sign of abating, and with Russia’s shadow looming over the region, the path forward will require not only diplomatic finesse but also a willingness to address the root causes of instability and migration. For now, the leaders have left London with more questions than answers, and the search for common ground continues.
