Western Balkan countries have reaffirmed their commitment to the process of joining the European Union (EU).
According to the Balkan bureau of Report, this is stated in the declaration on the European integration of the Western Balkans, adopted at the 11th Delphi Economic Forum.
In the document, the Western Balkan states called on Brussels to accelerate their accession process to the European Union.
“We emphasise the importance of the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU as a strategic imperative for European security. In this context, we welcome the EU’s renewed focus on the process of enlargement and the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU as a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity in our region and on our continent. We emphasise the need for effective integration and tangible EU support for our Western Balkan partners in combating hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. We therefore call for a renewed commitment to the accession process of the Western Balkan countries, based on credible reforms,” the declaration states.
The signatory countries also emphasised the importance of compliance with EU legislation, including the European Union’s common foreign and security policy. They also called for further simplification of trade procedures between the EU and the Western Balkan countries and expressed support for efforts to increase trade across EU borders.
