Borrell warns that the Balkans are a “battlefield of ideas” for Russia

BRUSSELS, March 15. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, supported this Tuesday during his visit to Albania the country’s accession to the European bloc, warning that the Balkan region is a “battlefield of ideas” for Russia in the midst of invasion of Ukraine.

In a press conference with the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, the head of community diplomacy pointed out that Russian influence in the region “is not something new”, but he warned that the Balkans will be a “battlefield of ideas”, in the middle of the war ordered by Vladimir Putin, indicating that the path that each Balkan country can take in the future is also at stake.

For this reason, the Spanish politician has asked to reinvigorate the EU accession process and has warned that the war in Ukraine has intensified the phenomenon of Russian propaganda in the area.

“Russian disinformation and systematic lies are increasing, we are noticing it. We have to face this because Putin not only wants to conquer space but also people’s minds,” Borrell told the Albanian prime minister.

During his visit, the High Representative called for revitalizing the EU’s enlargement policy, in which Albania and North Macedonia are on the waiting list to start accession negotiations. “It is time for these events to catalyze,” he defended.