Tetjana Kovtun from the Office for Implementation of Reforms in Ukraine pointed out that this country sees the European Union (EU) as an existential issue and that the issue of joining the EU is included in the country's constitution.
"I think that the EU is an anchor for Ukraine, its role is of crucial importance for its survival at this moment. We can say that Russia's invasion of Ukraine opened the door to the enlargement process, we practically see Ukraine's struggle to remain an independent, sovereign state on the wings of the EU To say that this is a new story, it is not, for the last 10 years since Ukraine signed the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine has put progress towards the EU and the Euro-Atlantic partnership in the Constitution," said Kovtun at the Belgrade Security Conference.
She added that Ukraine has also successfully implemented almost 80 percent of its obligations from the Treaty.
"In the last 10 years, support for European integration was among almost 70 percent of the population, and now it is somewhere around 91 percent throughout Ukraine, in all its areas, that is absolutely unequivocal. Ukraine was awakened by this crisis, this aggression in order to make its own geopolitical step. From this point of view, we can say that Ukraine is quite interested in the future in the EU, and also sees the EU as a geopolitical response to military aggression. I think we have to see this both ways," she said.
The head of the EU delegation in Serbia, Emanuel Žiofre, emphasized that it is necessary to renew support for the enlargement process.
"The issue of enlargement has never been more important than the summit in Thessaloniki. This is the result of the tragedy in Ukraine, we must not miss this opportunity. When it comes to enlargement, it is an issue on the table. Citizens must understand the moment in which all "When it comes to the area of the Western Balkans, we need to renew the support for the enlargement process that previously existed in this area. We are in a specific situation at this moment on our continent. The consequences of the tragedy in Ukraine after the aggression against Russia are great," he said. Giofre.
Former Minister of European Affairs in the Government of Montenegro, Jovana Marović, said that she does not see the will of the political elites in the Western Balkans to take advantage of the momentum that currently exists in the EU when it comes to enlargement.
"We are all on the same path of the enlargement process, we have to help each other. Including the newest candidate countries. In addition to the momentum in the EU for enlargement, which is not unusual, I do not see the will of the political elites to speed up the European path. Montenegro came the most when is about the European path, but that process lasts 11 years," Marović said.
She said that another thing related to the Western Balkans is that we are not making progress in strengthening democracy, which is the fault of our political parties.
"The mantra of this discussion is 'Should you be stronger to be bigger' is related, it's not like we have to wait another 20 years for the EU to make changes and be ready to become a member state. I think we have to see that is the EU strong, that the EU is a global player, that the EU is ready to spread democracy Another dilemma that has existed for 10 years is whether we should have an accession date, it is not possible to have an exact date, but it is possible to have the year 2030 . as a year for which each country will have a road map and the EU will have tasks for what each country is able to achieve by that year," Marović said.
Vladimir Medjak, vice president of the European Movement in Serbia, pointed out that, unfortunately, there would be no expansion without aggression against Ukraine.
"For the first time, we have an analysis of the budgetary impact in the future. When it comes to enlargement, the incentive for such a thing would not exist without the war in Ukraine, unfortunately. Twenty years and the attitude that nothing will happen produces another attitude - why bother now if nothing will happen. Serbia could have moved at least a centimeter compared to 2015 when it comes to European integration. The political elite in Serbia is promoting a reduction in support for EU integration," he said.
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