Clear agenda needed from EU: 'Friends of WB' group

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, NOV 13 - The so-called 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group, which includes Italy, has asked the EU to "present a clear agenda for a gradual and accelerated integration" of the region "with concrete implementation steps until 2024 and beyond, based on fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of merit," according to a non-paper seen by ANSA and which will be presented by Austria at today's EU-Western Balkans meeting. This agenda, it says, should provide "new impetus to deeper cooperation in the field of common foreign and security policy." (ANSA).