Slovenia as a country holding the Presidency of the European Union was part of today’s conference in Thessaloniki “Western Balkans join the dialogue on the future of Europe”, while the State Secretary of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gasper Dovzvan outlined that they are ready to facilitate the process of EU membership of the countries of the region, for that to happen as soon as possible, reports MIA.

Dovzan stated that for Slovenia, the Western Balkans have always been an important region, and “we all know that if Europe wishes to be global, a stronger player, it would be possible only when the EU integrates the partners of the Western Balkans”.

He said that by the end of the year, the country, as a country holding the Presidency of the Union, will use every opportunity to facilitate the cooperation between the EU and the partners from the Western Balkans in several areas, namely, when it comes to mutual challenges, such as security, illegal migration, environment, connectivity, but when also dealing with the economic consequences of the pandemic.

He said that within the framework of the Conference on the future of Europe, it is important to hear also the voices of the Western Balkans. The position that the Western Balkans too should be part of the discussion on the future of Europe, but also that the place of the region is in the European Union, was expressed also by the other members at today’s conference in Thessaloniki.

Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Sadovic reflected on the Thessaloniki agenda of 2003, and said that almost 20 years later, through today’s conference, the countries of the region are contributing to the discussion that is being led on the future of Europe and the European Union and stressed that the “Thessaloniki spirit is alive among our friends”.

Deputy Minister of European and Foreign Affairs of Albania Megi Fino mentioned that almost 20 years ago from Thessaloniki, the “countries of the Western Balkans were given a clear EU perspective” and added that the enlargement of the Union is of strategic interest of the EU.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Diaspora Donika Gervalla Scwartz spoke about the commitment of Greece both in promoting regional cooperation “without anyone being excluded” and in bringing the region closer to EU integration,

Acting Minister of European Integration of Serbia Miroslav Gacevic, on behalf of the competent Minister, focused on the interest of Serbia for participation through ideas and proposals in the discussion on the future of Europe, adding that everyone will have benefit from the involvement of the Western Balkans in the work of the conference, as the sense of the countries of the region that they belong in the European space will significantly increase.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Djordje Radulovic was with a similar view, who said that participation in the conference on the future of Europe of the candidate countries is important also because the conference can be an important political tool for stimulating the dynamics of the process of enlargement.

Within the Conference on the future of Europe, organized by the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, this afternoon in Thessaloniki a conference was held on the region titled “The Western Balkans join the dialogue on the future of Europe”, where Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of North Macedonia responsible for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov participated, and the conclusion of the participants of all the countries was that they had a fruitful, open and honest discussion.

Translation: N. Cvetkovska