The President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, said last night in Davos that the accelerated integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union (EU) is needed and that in times of multiple crises, it is important for the stability of the region to have a greater European presence.
Pendarovski, as published today on the website of the President of North Macedonia, said this at the "Diplomatic Dialogue for the Western Balkans" session of the World Economic Forum.
The President of North Macedonia reaffirmed the need for accelerated integration of the countries of the Western Balkans, which, as he assessed, will have a positive impact on security, overall political processes and the reform agenda, as well as Euro-optimism in the region.
According to him, the prospect of membership in the European Union is not only needed to strengthen the economy, improve trade and improve living standards, but also requires political integration into the EU institutions, which will contribute to democratic development, strengthening of institutions, rule of law and free media.
Pendarovski stressed that at a time of multiple crises for the stability of the Western Balkans, as he said, "it is important that we have a greater European presence in the region."
In the focus of last night's debate, as stated, were the prospects for EU expansion to the countries of the Western Balkans in a wider geopolitical and security context, their readiness to implement reforms, expectations from the European elections, improvement of the economic integration of the region and its growth.
Among the presenters were the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria Aleksandar Schallenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić. Kosovo Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčak also presented.
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