Chief Austrian Parliamentary: Peaceful EU Project Completed Only With Balkans

Austrian Parliament Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka praised today during a visit to Macedonia that the EU peace project is complete only when Western Balkan countries are members of the Union.

The future of Western Balkan countries is in the EU. The peace project in the EU is complete only when these countries are part of a joint Europe,” Sobotka said in his speech to the Macedonian Parliament.

He stressed that the priority of his foreign policy agenda and during the EU presidency is support in this process at the parliamentary level.

In his presentation, Sobotka particularly stressed parliament's role in the integration of Western Balkan countries.

“It is necessary for parliament to launch additional initiatives and provide different ways of co-operation in order to deepen the exchange at political levels, as well as administrative”, he stressed.

Austria, as he announced, will provide scholarship programmes for officials of the parliament administration of Western Balkan countries.

When it comes to Macedonia, he welcomed the decision to accept an agreement with Greece.

He praised the majority two-thirds accession for changing the state's name as <x0-seconds of parliamentarians”, as this step was not as simple as supported by the opposition.

In this regard, Sobotka called on MPs for unity for Macedonia's future.