EU’s Mogherini hosts working dinner with Western Balkans PMs
Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, hosted an informal gathering with the Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans to discuss the situation in the region and in particular the opportunities to advance the region’s EU integration in 2018.
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdić, Prime Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković and Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić reiterated their full commitment to continuing to work for the European Union integration process.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the meeting once again reiterated the need to continue reforms, while also expressing his confidence that Albania will open membership negotiations in the spring of 2018.
Prime Minister Rama and Foreign Minister Bushati have started a round of meetings with the heads of state of the European Union to gain their support for the approval of an invitation by the European Commission which would pave the way to Albania’s EU membership negotiations.
As clearly confirmed this year, including by the European Council in March and by President Juncker in his September State of the Union address, 2018 will provide a unique opportunity for the region to make irreversible steps forward in its EU integration, provided that the utmost priority is given to the necessary reforms, in particular on rule of law, justice and fundamental rights.
With a renewed dynamic in the EU’s enlargement policy and a chance to make important progress throughout the region, the High Representative underlined the need for all Western Balkans partners to accelerate essential reforms to deliver on their citizens’ expectations and take concrete steps towards EU integration.
SCAN
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