Dublin conference: Strong support for EU enlargement

All the speakers at a conference in Dublin have expressed strong support for the enlargement of the EU, says Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčak.

Izvor: Tanjug

Friday, 24.05.2013.

20:41

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DUBLIN All the speakers at a conference in Dublin have expressed strong support for the enlargement of the EU, says Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak. The conference held in the Irish capital was dubbed, "10 years after Thessaloniki: An appraisal of the EU's perspective and challenges in the Western Balkans." Dublin conference: Strong support for EU enlargement "The enlargement process will not be completed before the admission to membership of the entire Balkans. Our ambition must not be less than that," said Lajcak on his Twitter account. He added that, ten ears after the Thessaloniki summit, the whole of the Western Balkans was "on the right track" and that the time was right "for the signal of Brussels to the Western Balkans." "The economic crisis should not lead to enlargement fatigue. Why not take advantage of the potential that lies in the expansion as a stimulus for our economies," asked Lajcak. He then noted that there was still a gap between the knowledge that is collected in Europe on the Western Balkans and the understanding of what is really going on in the region. He said that the EU cannot compel anyone to transform or instill a political will and courage to implement reforms, but that it can offer perspective and support and set an example. Lajcak pointed out that Croatia, which will in July become a member of the EU, was an example of the realization of the European vision thanks to its ability to focus on the future, put in the first place the process of integration and reforms, and carry them out. The conference in Dublin was organized by the Irish EU presidency, and brought together senior officials from the organization, its member states, and candidate countries. The event considered the EU enlargement policy, the progress of candidate and potential candidate countries in the process of EU integration. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Dublin conference: Strong support for EU enlargement

"The enlargement process will not be completed before the admission to membership of the entire Balkans. Our ambition must not be less than that," said Lajčak on his Twitter account.

He added that, ten ears after the Thessaloniki summit, the whole of the Western Balkans was "on the right track" and that the time was right "for the signal of Brussels to the Western Balkans."

"The economic crisis should not lead to enlargement fatigue. Why not take advantage of the potential that lies in the expansion as a stimulus for our economies," asked Lajčak.

He then noted that there was still a gap between the knowledge that is collected in Europe on the Western Balkans and the understanding of what is really going on in the region.

He said that the EU cannot compel anyone to transform or instill a political will and courage to implement reforms, but that it can offer perspective and support and set an example.

Lajčak pointed out that Croatia, which will in July become a member of the EU, was an example of the realization of the European vision thanks to its ability to focus on the future, put in the first place the process of integration and reforms, and carry them out.

The conference in Dublin was organized by the Irish EU presidency, and brought together senior officials from the organization, its member states, and candidate countries.

The event considered the EU enlargement policy, the progress of candidate and potential candidate countries in the process of EU integration.

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