Minister Zaharieva Takes Part in a Conference on the Civil Society in the Western Balkans
16 May 2018 News
“I think that one of the best outcomes of the EU-Western Balkans Summit to be held in Sofia is that, with the great number of concomitant events, it gives a voice to the business community, the social partners, the people and the civil society.” With these words, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva addressed the participants in the international conference “Democracy that Delivers: Ten Years Later – Unlocking the Potential of the Western Balkans”, which took place in Sofia.
Minister Zaharieva said that the European perspective of the Western Balkans is an intrinsic priority not only for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, but also as a long-term commitment of the country’s foreign policy.
“It was not an easy task to convince our EU partners that this is a winning priority for both parties. On the one hand, the Western Balkans constitute a 20-million market with young population. On the other hand, the countries in this region lack the resilience to third-country influence,” the Minister said. This resilience is based on three pillars: functioning market economy, rule of law and independent judiciary, Zaharieva added. The Minister also said that the EU cannot carry out the necessary reforms for the governments of the six Western Balkan countries, but it can support their political leaders.
“What the EU can do, however, is to create tangible results for the citizens,” Minister Zaharieva stressed. This will be achieved with the Sofia Summit Declaration. “This Declaration will establish a long-term cooperation with the Western Balkans,” the Foreign Minister said and emphasised that its conclusions and commitments have been supported by all EU Member States. “The fact that we come up with a declaration shows that we are united and we work for our citizens,” Zaharieva said.
It is important now, however, not only to give promises, but also to deliver, as to do otherwise would bring about huge frustration among the people in the Western Balkans,” she added. The EU efforts are focused on work with the young people so that they can get the best possible education and jobs at home. „We also need to show the young people from these countries that nationalism and isolation bring no benefit to their countries,” the Minister said and further added that developing good neighbourly relations is not a cliché but evidence that the cooperation between the two parties is possible.
Minister Zaharieva stressed Bulgaria’s opinion that it is vital, as part of the Western Balkans’ path to a Euro-Atlantic prospect, that during the NATO Summit in July the leaders launch the process for inclusion of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia into the Alliance. “We should not think like bureaucrats but make a brave decision! We should really support Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia to embark on their path to a NATO membership!”
Finally, Minister Zaharieva hoped that the next EU-Western Balkans Summit took place as soon as possible. “I am glad that the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council has already announced its intentions to hold such a meeting,” she said. The conference was organised by the Centre for the Study of Democracy, the European Fund for the Balkans, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the European Commission.
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