The accession of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union (EU) will contribute to strengthening common security, and accelerating the negotiation process is a common interest of the EU and the candidate countries, it was stated at the meeting of foreign ministers of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group.
The meeting of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group and the Western Balkans foreign ministers with the European Commission was held today in Rome, hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Montenegro said that, in addition to the heads of diplomacy of the Western Balkan countries and members of the Group of Friends, the meeting was also attended by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kalas and the Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
As stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the focus of the talks was on preserving common security, strengthening cooperation with the Western Balkan countries, accelerating the accession process, as well as common priorities for the further course of negotiations.
"The participants of the high-level meeting agreed that it is important to work on affirming gradual integration, based on the principle of individual merit, with the aim of ensuring that citizens experience the concrete benefits of membership even before joining the Union," the statement said.
Kalas assessed that the countries of the Western Balkans are today important partners in improving common security and emphasized that it is necessary to work on strengthening the resilience of the countries of the region, with the aim of dealing with hybrid threats and challenges as successfully as possible.
She said that EU enlargement is a common interest and "represents an investment in security."
The meeting emphasized that, despite numerous challenges, enlargement represents one of the most successful policies of the Union and that the countries of the region will have the full support of the member states and EU institutions on the further path of reforms.
Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović stressed that it is very important that the Western Balkans remain at the top of the EU agenda.
He assessed that the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group significantly contributes to the realization of the region's European perspective.
Ibrahimović thanked the heads of diplomacy who maintain this format of cooperation and thus send a clear message - that the Western Balkans have a place in the EU.
"The world needs a strong EU today more than ever, and there is positive momentum towards enlargement, so we have no time to waste," said Ibrahimović.
According to him, any distraction or missed opportunity that jeopardizes the European integration process benefits third parties.
"Therefore, we have a shared responsibility to seize this opportunity. This is what the citizens of Montenegro expect from us, as well as our international partners and friends who stand shoulder to shoulder with us," said Ibrahimović.
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