The EU must bear "in mind that the full integration of the Western Balkans into the European system of values is an important factor for the overall European stability as well," says the declaration.

However, this "does not exclude the obligation of the candidate countries to implement the standards set by the European Union for the countries seeking fullfledged membership," the statement says.

Speaking to the press, Slovenian President Borut Pahor said that enlargement to the Western Balkans would not likely be a priority of the next European Commission.

"Therefore we need to make the region more attractive to other EU members," said Pahor, adding that all countries in the region should be invited to join the bloc. This would make it easier to resolve problems and open issues among them.

Croatian Presidnet Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who co-hosts with Pahor the events of Brdo-Brijuni Process, initiated by their countries in 2010, expressed at the press conference concern over lack of progress in the region.

She said that neither Brussels nor member states show much interest in Southeastern Europe. "We've created a dangerous vacuum... it is being filled by third parties that are not necessarily good for the region."

At the press conference Pahor announced that the next summit would take place in Slovenia, expectedly in mid-November. He and Grabar-Kitarović have invited UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to attend the event.

The summit in Tirana also featured special guests: the EU's high representative for foreign affairs EU Federica Mogherini and Polish President Andrzej Duda, who will be hosting a summit of the Berlin Process in July.