Western Balkans Summit in Paris reaffirms European perspective for the region

The Western Balkans Summit in Paris yesterday reaffirmed the European perspective for the region.

"My message was very clear: our determination to proceed with the enlargement process is there and it is very important to reaffirm it now," said High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini i, at the Summit, stressing the importance of integration for peace and stability, in the region and for the security of European citizens.

“We are working on a daily basis....to make steps towards the European integration of the Western Balkans,” Mogherini told the media. “This is extremely important for peace and stability, but also for the security of the European citizens. We often focus on the interest in the region to proceed towards the European integration, but it is also very important for our own security.”

She underlined that the migration crisis had highlighted the risks of radicalisation in the region and that close cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans states was vital.

“It is particularly important today, after the results of the UK referendum, because inside the European Union sometimes we have problems in identifying the added value of the European project, while in the Western Balkans it is self-evident that the integration process of the European Union is bringing positive things for the citizens,” the High Representative added.

“We have euro-enthusiasm in the region that we need to nourish and we need to look at it as a source of inspiration inside our borders,” Mogherini concluded.

Hosted by French President, François Hollande i, the Summit meeting provided a platform for leaders to discuss not only the European perspective of the region, but also issues such as migration, youth radicalisation, security, employment and economic growth.

In the margins of the Summit, the signing ceremony of the 'Agreement on the establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the Western Balkans' took place as well as a number of other side events with high-level EU participation, including of Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn i, Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc i, and Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics i.

Links:

Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the Paris Balkans Summit 2016