Kristian Vigenin: The active work on EU enlargement should continue
03 June 2014 News
Minister Kristian Vigenin participated in a Western Balkans Conference, organized by the Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria. In his statement, Vigenin welcomed the initiative of the hosts to place economic development in the focus of the conference. He emphasized that it is important for the citizens of the candidate countries to see an immediate connection between the pro -European reforms and greater prosperity for people.
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister called for strengthening of the economic ties between the countries of the region and for priority development of the transport and the energy infrastructure. Minister Vigenin emphasized that it is very important the largest foreign investors to see a single market on the Western Balkans that is capable of guaranteeing the stability of their investments. He underlined the direct link between the establishment of the rule of law and the economic development.
Minister Kristian Vigenin said that in light of the recent European elections it is necessary not only the Western Balkan countries to continue their efforts to meet the membership criteria, but also the EU itself to take measures in order to make it more attractive for the European citizens and the citizens of the candidate countries. He called the future European Commission to continue the active work on the EU enlargement process and expressed hope that the enlargement policy will be assigned to a strong, committed and motivated EU Commissioner.
In his address at the opening of the forum, the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz stressed the importance of the EU enlargement process for the peace and stability in the Western Balkans and the particular interest of Austria in this regard. He emphasized that the enlargement is often unpopular in many Member States, but the past experience has proved its undoubted advantages both for the candidate countries and the EU as a whole.
The program of the work visit of Minister Vigenin to Vienna continues with a participation in the Annual Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.