site.btaThirteen EU Member States Demand Faster EU Integration of Western Balkans

105 POLITICS - BULGARIA - EU - WESTERN BALKANS

Thirteen EU Member States
Demand Faster EU Integration
of Western Balkans


Sofia, June 12 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, together with the ministers of 12 other EU Member States, urged for the speeding up of the European integration of the Western Balkans. The thirteen Ministers (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia) called for the opening of accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania in June 2019, Zaharieva's Ministry reported in a press release.

The Joint Statement highlights the importance of the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans as a key instrument for achieving sustainable stability, peace and prosperity. All Members of the Council are urged to take far-sighted, bold decisions this month, which would promote continuous reform progress, in line with EU standards and values. Countries in the region need to work for close regional cooperation and make efforts for genuine good-neighborly relations.

Bulgaria believes that the start of the negotiations process with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia will maintain and consolidate the positive reform momentum in their societies. The EU Member States will have the opportunity to assess their individual progress and render their support at each and every stage.

EU enlargement to the Western Balkan countries remains one of Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities. Good neighborly relations, regional cooperation and the rule of law are horizontal criteria for the progress of candidate countries. The implementation of the letter and spirit of the Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation by the Republic of North Macedonia will be key to making the relevant decisions. This is the way towards ensuring regional stability and solving all open issues in order to create a secure environment for regional and European security, the press release read. LI/MY
/МЙ/