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Minister Darmanović in Prague: Integration of Western Balkans is strategic goal and priority of EU

Published on: Feb 27, 2020 • 11:29 PM Author: PR Service
Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović participated today in a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group countries and the Western Balkan countries in Prague. The meeting was also attended by EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, as well as representatives of Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

"The integration of the Western Balkans is a foreign policy objective of the Czech Republic, and our V4 presidency will make an additional contribution in this direction. There is no room for further delay, enlargement is the key to creating a secure region and Europe," Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček emphasised.

Commissioner Várhelyi stressed the EU and Warsaw Group's support for enlargement policy. "The final integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is our priority, but also geostrategic and geopolitical interest," the European Commissioner said. He reiterated the support of the EU Commission for opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania in March this year, stressing that it is a demanding process but that the new negotiation methodology should help faster and better integration. 

The meeting welcomed the priorities of the Czech Presidency of this regional organisation, including cooperation and support to the Western Balkans on the European and Euro-Atlantic path.

It has been confirmed that the key to the stability of the Western Balkans is clear and unequivocal support for the region by European partners.

Minister Darmanović highlighted the complex challenges we face that require intense and close communication and cooperation. "Montenegro is committed to strengthening stability and partnership in the Region. However, the policy of cooperation and building of regional stability implies non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, to which Montenegro has been exposed recently," the Montenegrin Foreign Minister stressed.

He added that it is crucial for the EU to continue its enlargement policy, because the European perspective of the Region has no alternative. He expressed his belief that the newly introduced EU membership negotiation methodology was designed with the best intention of contributing to the credibility and predictability of the negotiation process, and that Montenegro would seriously and carefully analyze which of the two negotiation methods is more effective for its further EU integration process.

Referring to the importance of partner cooperation within the Visegrad Group with the Western Balkans, he particularly referred to Montenegro's forthcoming chairmanship of the Western Balkans Fund, during which the priorities will be to strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture, science, youth exchange, and promotion of sustainable development.

Minister Darmanović welcomed the importance of the Visegrad Group in the process of supporting the Western Balkans European and Euro-Atlantic path so far, saying that Montenegro will continue to intensively cooperate with its V4 partners towards meeting its strategic goal - EU membership.

During the ministerial meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Visegrad Fund and the Western Balkans Fund.

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