The EU enlargement process and the latest developments related to the recent EU Summits were topics discussed on Monday during the annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) and the Western Balkans countries (WB6) in Poznan, organized as part of Poland’s presidency of the Visegrad Group, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani.
Key issues related to the future of the EU accession process of the countries of the region as a two-way process that implies fulfillment by both sides, as well as the reflection of all these issues on the credibility and integrity of the EU in the region and globally were discussed during the event, which was also attended by Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, as well as the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Osmani thanked the upcoming Slovenian EU presidency for their plans and priorities regarding the Western Balkans, but also for the efforts of the Portuguese EU presidency on start of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
“North Macedonia has made significant efforts in recent years to open accession negotiations and any delay in this start creates certain frustrations and mistrust in the enlargement process. But despite these challenges, we do not give up our own European future, but also continue to be actively engaged in overcoming misunderstandings with our neighbour, as well as our active engagement in protecting and promoting European credibility in the region,” Osmani said.
All ministers sent out a strong signal on continuation of efforts to make the necessary decisions under the Slovenian EU presidency by the end of the year, underscoring the importance of continuing the enlargement process as a strategic goal of the EU and the importance of the negotiation process for the internal reforms of the countries, as well as for the overall positive transformation of the region, reads the press release.
During the meeting, the talks were focused on regional cooperation in the context of economic recovery of the region, deepening cooperation in the areas of common regional market, digitalization, green agenda, as areas with great potential for economic revival of the region.
Osmani thanked the Visegrad Group for its support to the region, which has been demonstrated through a number of concrete projects. In this regard, he referred to the North Macedonia’s chairmanship of the Western Balkans Fund, whose work is largely supported by the International Visegrad Fund and the V4 Group. Osmani outlined the priorities of the country’s chairmanship of the Western Balkans Fund, which refer to its further growth, increased project activity and strengthening of regional ownership of its operations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
