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Balkans: Von der Leyen, need to push economic integration
Region is "part of the European family"
29 August, 16:53
(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 29 - "Let her be no doubt: our friends
from the Western Balkans are part of our European family" and to
reinvigorate the EU perspective for the Balkans "we must push
the integration of our economies even further," the President of
the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen said at the opening
of the Bled Strategic Forum. Von der Leyen recalled the billions
invested in the region by the EU, adding however that "we must
strengthen the credibility of the accession process." "In recent
years progress has bee slowed, not least by international
actors, including Russia, who seek to undermine democratic
institution building and the rule of law," she noted. However,
"the EU has a strategic interest that all six countries in the
Balkans advance on the path towards EU membership." (ANSA).
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