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Balkans: Thessaloniki, summit on the European perspective
'Enlargement guarantees the EU's peace and stability'
24 February, 13:34
(ANSA) - THESSALONIKI, FEBRUARY 24 - The European perspective
of the Western Balkans is the key theme of a regional conference
of foreign ministers which opened today in Thessaloniki, Greece.
'From Thessaloniki to Zagreb' is the title of the meeting, with reference both to the June 2003 summit in the Greek city where the EU solemnly announced its commitment to supporting the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, and to the EU summit with the countries of the region in Zagreb scheduled for May 2020, during the Croatian semester of the rotating presidency of the EU. Together with the diplomatic heads of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo, their counterparts from Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria and EU member countries that are part of the region are participating in the conference. The representatives of the European Union are attending the summit, too. "Thessaloniki is a symbolic place for the integration of the Western Balkans, and from here we want to launch a clear political message today in support of the region's European perspective," said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. "Enlargement - he added - is fundamental to guarantee the whole continent's peace and stability." Among the issues under discussion, in particular, are the expectations for the opening of the EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, postponed last October because some member countries led by France were opposed, but also the Kosovo issue with hopes of resuming the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and the crises that have emerged in recent times in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. (ANSA).
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'From Thessaloniki to Zagreb' is the title of the meeting, with reference both to the June 2003 summit in the Greek city where the EU solemnly announced its commitment to supporting the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, and to the EU summit with the countries of the region in Zagreb scheduled for May 2020, during the Croatian semester of the rotating presidency of the EU. Together with the diplomatic heads of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo, their counterparts from Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria and EU member countries that are part of the region are participating in the conference. The representatives of the European Union are attending the summit, too. "Thessaloniki is a symbolic place for the integration of the Western Balkans, and from here we want to launch a clear political message today in support of the region's European perspective," said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. "Enlargement - he added - is fundamental to guarantee the whole continent's peace and stability." Among the issues under discussion, in particular, are the expectations for the opening of the EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, postponed last October because some member countries led by France were opposed, but also the Kosovo issue with hopes of resuming the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and the crises that have emerged in recent times in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. (ANSA).
