EU reaffirms commitment to Western Balkans

SARAJEVO, June 2 – EU Foreign Affairs High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for EnlargementStefan Fuele took part in the European Union-Western Balkans High Level Meeting in Sarajevo this week.
The main objective of the meeting – where EU Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers from Western Balkans countries also participated – was to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to Western Balkans and its European perspective.
Ashton said ahead of Sarajevo meeting: “Integrating the Western Balkans into the European family of nations remains one of the last challenges to building a democratic and unified Europe. In Sarajevo, the EU will reaffirm the Balkans’ place in Europe and the European perspective for the region.”
While Fuele said, “The Conference provided a timely confirmation of the perspective of EU membership for the Western Balkans and the continuation of the enlargement process. I welcome the commitment expressed by the Western Balkans to intensify the pace of reforms in key areas and to further strengthen inclusive and efficient regional cooperation. The Commission will support the Western Balkans in these endeavors. Enlargement is based on strong conditionalities but it is first of all a political project. I am glad Sarajevo Conference underlined that.”
The Sarajevo meeting, organized by the Spanish Presidency with the support of the EU, marked the 10thanniversary of the Zagreb Summit of 25 November 2000, where EU launched the Stabilization and Association Process and the European perspective for Western Balkans. They were confirmed at the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003, where regular high-level meetings were also launched.