Lajcak: Ukraine could overcome Western Balkans in European integration

He said that at this difficult time the Western Balkans need Union, but that efforts must be stepped up to get involved in the process even in solving problems.

The war in Ukraine has changed the way the EU views enlargement, in a positive way, because Russian aggression in Ukraine has again made the political process of enlargement. We need the Western Balkans to be with us in this difficult time... we also expect partners in the Western Balkans to demonstrate that they are part of the solutions and not only with statements or join sanctions, but also through the way they address their problems or help us deal with their problems. I was a great optimist a month ago, but now I dare say that we can see Ukraine overcome Western Balkan partners when it comes to the integration process. Unfortunately, I don't see much difference when it comes to rhetoric between partners in the region, they say the right words when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, but when you see political confrontations in Bosnia and Herzegovina or lack of progress in normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia, when you see the process in the region”.

Lajcak has also seen the lack of trust from Western Balkan countries and his return to the EU as one of its priority works.

He made these statements at the EU-Balkan Forum, where Kosovo's top diplomat Donika Grovalla was participating, which made the same complaint that the EU is not serious in relation to the Western Balkans.