The EU Western Balkan Summit was held on the 13th in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. In the Brussels Declaration released after the meeting, EU leaders called on the Western Balkan countries to deepen reforms in order to "accelerate the accession process.". The declaration reaffirms the EU's "comprehensive and clear commitment" to the accession of Western Balkan countries to the EU, and calls on these countries to "accelerate the accession process" on the basis of continuing to promote reforms in areas such as the rule of law and judicial independence. The declaration states that the EU is committed to accelerating and further deepening its contacts with the Western Balkan countries, including regularly holding EU Western Balkan Summit, inviting Western Balkan countries to participate in EU high-level events, and strengthening multilateral cooperation. European Council President Michel stated before the summit that the EU hopes to use a gradual integration approach, with more investment and economic development, to enable Western Balkan countries to "quickly feel the positive impact of engagement with the EU.". In early November this year, the European Commission proposed a new growth plan to support the Western Balkan countries, which includes 6 billion euros in funding and loans to accelerate economic integration between the region and the European Union. The EU currently has 27 member states. The Western Balkan countries include Serbia, Croatia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and others. Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, while other Western Balkan countries have started the process to varying degrees, but progress has been slow. (Lai Xin She)