Ekaterina Zaharieva: “We will provide political support and practical assistance to the Western Balkans”
18 October 2017 News
“The Western Balkan countries will be hearing ever more often political messages in support of their European perspective, but Bulgaria is also seeking to push through practical measures for the people in those countries.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said this by way of illustrating the principal priority of the forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union during a joint meeting of the National Assembly European Affairs and European Funds Oversight Committee and Foreign Policy Committee.
Also taking part in the meeting were Ambassadors Qirjako Kureta of Albania, Radomir Bogdanović of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marjan Gjorchev of the Republic of Macedonia and Vladimir Ćurgus of Serbia, the Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Kosovo Delfin Pllana, and the Charge d’Affaires of Montenegro Mirsad Bibović.
“The Western Balkans have hardly ever before been a more talked about topic in the European Union,” Minister Zaharieva said. “Let’s recall where we were just four or five months ago, when nobody believed that we would be able to win them over for this priority. It is important to ensure connectivity of the region in all aspects. Prime Minister Borissov has already talked to most of the leaders of our neighbouring countries and has stressed the need of having a clear plan for job creation and prospects for young people. This is the message we have for our friends in the Western Balkans: ‘We offer you advice and expertise, but you should carry out your reforms on your own. Help yourselves so that we can help you!”
Zaharieva recalled that the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini identified the region as one of the five priorities of EU diplomacy for the first time in 12 years. Minister Zaharieva added that the six countries of the region stand a unique chance of the EU Council Presidency being held in succession by five pro-enlargement Member States: Estonia, Bulgaria, Austria, Romania and Croatia.
The six diplomats thanked Bulgaria for the efforts that have helped revive the debate on an enlargement of the European Union, which Montenegrin Charge d’Affaires Bibović described by saying: “You are a key player in the support for us along our road to the EU.” Albanian Ambassador Kureta stated that the Western Balkans contribute more to security than they consume it and called for bringing more “political soul” to the process of Albania’s EU accession.
His Bosnian colleague Bogdanović added that his country advocates the ideas on which the EU is founded and that his compatriots are determined to become part of the Union, and that “there is no alternative” to making progress towards this objective. His country is now ready with 90 per cent of the responses to the questionnaire it has received from Commissioner Hahn.
Kosovo diplomat Pllana pointed out that the Bulgarian Presidency opens up a “unique opportunity” to the region and welcomed any technical and expert assistance from Bulgaria. He was particularly appreciative of Bulgarian EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel’s efforts for scrapping roaming charges between the Western Balkans and the EU.
Ambassador Marjan Gjorchev of the Republic of Macedonia expressed the hope that after his country’s consistent efforts it stands a chance of starting EU membership negotiations, and he quoted “an old Balkan proverb according to which, if we advance too fast towards Europe, we will start to neglect our problems, and if we advance too slowly, our problems will overtake us. We can’t escape them, so let’s tackle them.”
Serbian Ambassador Ćurgus said that, according to his country, all countries of the Western Balkans belong in the EU.
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