"With Russia's war of aggression
against Ukraine and other challenges to our continent's
security, the enlargement policy, one of the EU's most effective
geopolitical tools, has received a new and strong impetus. In
this regard, the Western Balkans will be the EU's geostrategic
litmus test." This is according to a letter from the foreign
ministers of the group 'Friends of the Western Balkans,
including Vice-Premier Antonio Tajani, addressed to the EU High
Representative, Kaja Kallas, and the EU Commissioner for
Enlargement, Marta Kos, ahead of tomorrow's Foreign Affairs
Council in Brussels. "Only by integrating this region into the
EU family," it further reads, "can we ensure the stability and
prosperity of our continent. In the letter, viewed by ANSA, the
ministers call in particular for "a clear agenda and timetable
for the full implementation of the Growth Plan" for the region
and "the advancement of the gradual integration into the single
market and other EU policies" with the aim of providing "a
tangible prospect of EU membership." To achieve this goal,
Western Balkan partners are encouraged to "accelerate the
necessary reforms" and call for "more regular and structured
informal exchanges" especially in the area of the Common Foreign
and Security Policy. The 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group
also proposes "better targeting of funding" for accession, and
stresses that "the necessary internal EU reform process" should
advance "in parallel with the accession process" without,
however, considering it a precondition for enlargement. Finally,
the ministers say they are "in favor" of a Europe-wide
communication campaign to explain the reasons, needs and
benefits of this common geostrategic move." Established in June
2023, the 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group brings together
Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Greece and
Slovenia in addition to Italy, with the aim of promoting an
acceleration of the region's European integration process.
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