News in English     | 07.02.2018. 13:13 |

Kneissl: Austria supports the new enlargement strategy for Western Balkans

FENA Press release

SARAJEVO, February 7 (FENA) - Austria supports the new Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans. It is in our interest that the countries of the Western Balkans have a concrete and credible prospect of accession to the European Union and that the accession of each individual country takes place in accordance with its progress. Therefore, in recent years, we have asked for a clear commitment from the European Union to support these countries, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Karin Kneissl.

The new strategy, first of all, determines that the accession process - at least for the fastest candidates - could be completed around 2025.

"This should encourage our friends in the Western Balkans and help them to carry out the difficult reforms that are needed for prosperity and security," said Minister Kneissl and emphasized that, it is primarily on the countries themselves, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo, to accelerate their accession process with the European Union as required in the new Strategy, with continuous and measurable steps in the areas of rule of law, democracy, fight against corruption and, above all, reconciliation with neighbors,” said the minister.

Kneissl further stressed that the six countries are also in geographic terms surrounded by members of the European Union, which is why we must prevent the creation of a security, political and economic vacuum in this region.

Therefore, the coming years must be used to strengthen the structures of the rule of law and economy in the Western Balkans, in order to reduce emigration, accelerated the fight against organized crime and smuggling, and resolved outstanding disputes in accordance with international law."

Speaking about bilateral conflicts, in the framework of the Western Balkans Summit 2015, Austria was the one to have joined and pledged to secure the signing of the so-called Vienna Declaration on the settlement of bilateral disputes. An upgrade on that basis would allow Austria to put a new accent in favor of regional cooperation during its chairmanship in the second half of 2018, stated the Embassy of Austria in BiH.

“We want to support reconciliation, democracy, prosperity and stability in the Western Balkans. The process of joining the European Union is the best tool to achieve all of those things,” concluded Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl.

(FENA) S. R.

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