Ministerial meeting on the European perspective of the Western Balkans
The foreign ministers of the Friends of the Western Balkans group in the European Union (Austria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) and the foreign ministers of the six Western Balkan countries met today in Göttweig (Austria).
Why is it relevant
The aim of the Friends of the Western Balkans group in the European Union is to accelerate the EU integration process of the Western Balkan countries and to provide tangible benefits to the people of the region.
Context
The Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg initiated the Friends of the Western Balkans group at the Europa-Forum Wachau a year ago.
The EU member states that participate in the group played an important role in launching the concept of gradual integration, which makes it possible to gradually integrate the Western Balkan states into certain EU policy areas, in particular in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). This can strengthen the region’s resilience to hybrid threats and external influence, and advance the EU integration process.
The Friends of the Western Balkans group has called for including EU enlargement in the Western Balkans as a top priority in the new EU legislative period, and for a concrete roadmap for the implementation of the new growth plan for the Western Balkans, which provides for financial resources and gradual integration into the EU internal market.