EU Reporter Published 15 hours ago On 28 June, the speakers of the parliaments of the Western Balkans came together for the second Western Balkans Speakers’ Summit at the invitation of European Parliament President David Sassoli. They were joined by the speakers of the Portuguese and Slovenian Parliaments, representing the current and upcoming Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. Following the meeting, President Sassoli said: “I am very pleased that the speakers of the Western Balkans followed my invitation and joined me today for the second Summit in this format. “Together, we have reaffirmed the central role of our institutions in driving forward the enlargement process. As inclusive spaces of dialogue and exchange of views, Parliaments can foster mutual understanding and reconciliation in the Western Balkans, thus directly contributing to peace, stability, prosperity and stronger democracy in the region - all of which are key for our common European future. This role becomes even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted our societies and challenged democracies all around the world.