7 minutes agoBorrell: Western Balkan Countries Must Do Homework
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)“Should reject the idea that we [European Union] pretend we love the Western Balkans within our framework”, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell said on Tuesday. Speaking at an online conference organised by the Atlantic Council, Borrell said the European perspective remains the engine of reforms in [...]
“Should reject the idea that we [European Union] pretend we love the Western Balkans within our framework”, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell said on Tuesday.
Speaking at an online conference organised by the Atlantic Council, Borrell said the European perspective remains the engine of reforms in the countries of the region and that “is not fair to say that the EU only speaks and does not act” when it comes to enlargement with the Western Balkans.
“We are investing a lot of money to help Western Balkan countries implement reforms and improve their economies and the political and judicial system, in order to get closer to the EU system”, Borrell said.
According to him, the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is a step-by-step process.
“to begin accession negotiations with northern Macedonia and Albania. We have resumed negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo with special envoy [ Miroslav Lajcak] and I think we have put that dialogue” on the road, Borrell said, Radio Free Europe reported.
Kosovo and Serbia, with the European Union's mediation, are negotiating now ten years for normalisation of relations. The negotiations would have to end with reaching a comprehensive binding agreement.
Lajcak has said earlier that the new round of talks will be organised after the February 14th elections in Kosovo.
As priorities in the Western Balkans, Borrell cited the independent judiciary and the fight against corruption.
The countries of the Western Balkans must do their homework, carry out reforms and meet standards in order to be accepted as a member”, he said.
EU Support Evidently Greater Than China, Russia, Turkey
According to him, EU support for the Western Balkans is evidently greater than the support the region received from China, Russia and Turkey.
Our economic investment <x0 plan [for the Western Balkans] amounts to 9 billion euros for addressing health and economic aspects”, Borrell said, adding that the EU is trying to help with anti-cornavirus vaccines, but that it is facing challenges itself.
We accept that we are facing difficulties because we lack vaccines [in the EU], while in some countries in the region, such as Serbia, a major diplomatic battle is under way”, Borrell said.
He also stressed that the Western Balkans are located amid co-operation priorities between the EU and the United States.
We have a lot of positive signs. The new administration [of the American president, Joe] Beden works with allies, knows the importance of the EU, and considers it a friend, and not just partner”, said EU top diplomat Josep Borrell.
