The accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU will contribute to strengthening common security, and accelerating the negotiation process is of common interest for both the European Union and the candidate countries. This was emphasized at a meeting in Rome, BTA reports.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani hosted the talks, which brought together EU representatives, Western Balkan foreign ministers and the Friends of the Western Balkans group, which includes Italy, Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.
"We are in favour of all Western Balkan countries joining the EU before 2030," Antonio Tajani said on the sidelines of the meeting, quoted by the ANSA news agency. He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina may need more time, but Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia have made progress and 2029 seems a realistic deadline for their accession.
Regarding Kosovo, Tajani stressed the importance of efforts to overcome existing tensions. He stressed the need to respect minority rights and expressed hope for a reduction in tensions along the border between Kosovo and Serbia. Serbia still does not recognize the independence of its former province, which was declared in 2008.
The meeting was also attended by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, as well as the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. In her post on social media, Kos stressed the need for accelerated gradual integration of the Western Balkans, with reforms and common security challenges remaining a key focus.
Kaja Kallas, for her part, assessed the countries of the region as important partners for the EU's security and stressed the importance of building resilience against hybrid threats. EU enlargement was presented as an "investment in security" and a strategic priority.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that, despite the many challenges, EU enlargement remains one of the most successful policies of the European Union. The countries of the region can count on the full support of the EU Member States and institutions to implement the necessary reforms on the path to membership.