Bled: EU membership guarantees stability and progress in Western Balkans

Bled, Slovenia (6 September 2016) – Despite the current challenges the EU is facing, EU membership remains the best drivers of reforms, which are leading to sustainable development, and also the guarantor of stability in the Western Balkans. That was the message that participants of the Panel „Western Balkans: is the EU still a pull factor?“ sent.

Chief Negotiator for Montenegro's Accession to EU Aleksandar Andrija Pejović participated on behalf of Montenegro in Bled Strategic Forum, which was held on 6 September. Within the framework of this panel, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Hungary, Macedonia and Serbia took part, as well as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt B. Yee.

Ambassador Pejović stressed that EU membership is an opportunity for countries in the region to overcome past conflicts, to strenghten good neighbourly cooperation and to ensure growth and development of this part of Europe by join efforts.

The EU accession process remains the most important factor in maintaining peace and stability and an effective mechanism for the continuation of reforms, that will make countries of the Western Balkans closer to the most developed countries of Europe. Significant expert and financial support from the EU and the Member States that we can use, help us adopt European standards faster, better and more efficiently, as well as improve the life quality in the countries of the region. There is no alternative to EU membership for the countries of the Western Balkans“, Ambassador Pejović pointed out.

In this connection, he recalled the important framework which the EU provides by Berlin process and which encourages and supports the European perspective of this part of Europe. He emphasised that this initiative has already made a significant contribution to infrastructural connecting of region, within itself and with the EU, making the Western Balkans economically stronger and safer part of the European continent.

Panel participants noted that the enlargement process proved to be one of the most successful policies of the EU in previous years, and that each new member gave new strenght and quality to the EU family. They stressed that, despite the increasing complexity of the accession process, as well as the challenges faced in recent years, EU membership still remains a strong factor in attracting and encouragement for reforms, sustainable progress and stability.

This year's Forum, which was an opportunita for a series of our delegation's bilateral meetings, was titled „Safeguarding the Future“ and brought together about 700 participants, senior officials, representatives of state administration, diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as the representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, renowned scientific institues and private and public companies.