“Future of Balkans lies in EU”

Serbian government's EU Integration Office Director Milica Delevic has stated that the EU has not given up on the enlargement process. She assessed at a conference in Sofia dubbed “The Balkans in the global world: encouragement of the European prospect of the region” that the future of the entire region was in the EU accession. “Future of Balkans lies in EU” Delevic said that “the continuation of the integration process guarantees a continuous reform process, which will lead to changes we all seek,” Bulgarian BTA news agency has reported. U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Philip Reeker said at the conference that leader of the Balkan countries chose what their future would be like based on their past and in accordance with the future challenges. “The EU and the U.S. have agreed to work together in areas that are of key importance for the Western Balkans development – building democratic institutions, implementation of infrastructure projects, training of young leaders, establishment of peace and stability in the region as a guarantee of security and stability in the global aspect,” he pointed out in Sofia. EU facilitator in the Belgrade-Pristina talks Robert Cooper said he believed that every country that wished to be a part of the EU should be able to join the Union without preconditions. “Then they would be able to see how much work was left and results would probably be better,” he explained. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak noted that the Balkans never ceased to surprise him. He added that everybody expected more enthusiasm but that fear, pessimism and distrust were present when it came to the Balkans’ EU integration. “It is important that all of us in the EU must not underestimate the mood in the countries of the region, that were created, among other things, thanks to us being preoccupied with our own problems. The enlargement should strengthen, rather than weaken the Union. The EU membership is not a gift, it is a goal that needs to be reached through reforms,” Lajcak explained. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini noted that the biggest mistake would be if the EU had differences in positions on the future of the Balkan countries’ EU integration. According to him, the EU should catalyze the U.S. “focused and aggressive policy” toward the countries in the region and more actively encourage the EU integration, “because the process is of key importance for the future of the entire Europe”. “What is important is to preserve enthusiasm regarding the accession and to carefully handle statements that people see as EU messages,” Frattini concluded. Tanjug

“Future of Balkans lies in EU”

Delević said that “the continuation of the integration process guarantees a continuous reform process, which will lead to changes we all seek,” Bulgarian BTA news agency has reported.

U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Philip Reeker said at the conference that leader of the Balkan countries chose what their future would be like based on their past and in accordance with the future challenges.

“The EU and the U.S. have agreed to work together in areas that are of key importance for the Western Balkans development – building democratic institutions, implementation of infrastructure projects, training of young leaders, establishment of peace and stability in the region as a guarantee of security and stability in the global aspect,” he pointed out in Sofia.

EU facilitator in the Belgrade-Priština talks Robert Cooper said he believed that every country that wished to be a part of the EU should be able to join the Union without preconditions.

“Then they would be able to see how much work was left and results would probably be better,” he explained.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčak noted that the Balkans never ceased to surprise him.

He added that everybody expected more enthusiasm but that fear, pessimism and distrust were present when it came to the Balkans’ EU integration.

“It is important that all of us in the EU must not underestimate the mood in the countries of the region, that were created, among other things, thanks to us being preoccupied with our own problems. The enlargement should strengthen, rather than weaken the Union. The EU membership is not a gift, it is a goal that needs to be reached through reforms,” Lajčak explained.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini noted that the biggest mistake would be if the EU had differences in positions on the future of the Balkan countries’ EU integration.

According to him, the EU should catalyze the U.S. “focused and aggressive policy” toward the countries in the region and more actively encourage the EU integration, “because the process is of key importance for the future of the entire Europe”.

“What is important is to preserve enthusiasm regarding the accession and to carefully handle statements that people see as EU messages,” Frattini concluded.