2 minutes agoDespite Brex, Great Britain Urges Balkan States for EU Membership
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)The British government will hold a summit in which it will encourage six European countries to join the European Union for the sake of their “security, stability and prosperity”, months before this country signs its EU exit agreement with Brussels. London will host Western Balkan governments, including [...]
London will host the Western Balkan governments, including Albania and Serbia” in July, as well as other existing EU member states, to discuss reforms that would pave the way for EU enlargement.
The summit is part of the so-called Berlin Process a series of meetings aimed at supporting the region towards membership in the bloc and described as the summit “that brings a new perspective and impetus to the enlargement process”, reports The Independent”.
Critics say Britain's government should have “s mood” for organising a conference on EU enlargement and raising benefits from accession while Britain itself is heading towards its exit door, Koha.net broadcasts.
Leaders of candidate countries for the EU, Albania, Macedonia and Serbia will participate, as will Kosovo and Bosnia, and the last two states have expressed interest in joining the bloc but have not been accepted as candidates.
They will join representatives of governments from EU countries interested in the region, including Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
Asked about the summit and the position of Great Britain for the Western Balkans' EU membership, a foreign ministry spokesman has told the Independent”: “We are confident that the EU accession process is important to bring security, stability and prosperity to the Western Balkans”.
When the candidate countries meet the terms for full accession, it is up to those countries and EU member states to decide eventually for membership”.
Tom Brake, spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats and campaign supporter “best for Britain”, said: “Somebody in the Foreign Ministry certainly has a sense of humor in organising a conference to promote EU membership for the Western Balkans. Now that we are ready to leave the EU, we begin to advise others to join. Government policy would not seem in vain at the theater of absurdity”.
Brake told Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: “This only shows how uncompetent Boris is. I wouldn't let him run a bath, let the Foreign Ministry go.”
The government says the London summit will focus on “facilitating political co-operation” in the region, “strengthening regional security co-operation” and “boosting economic stability with the aim of improving the business environment”, broadcast Time.net.
The London summit will follow the Sofia summit scheduled for Thursday, where EU leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, will discuss the region's future.
