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Bratislava – The enlargement of the European Union is, according to Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD), one of the key tools for building peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Europe. It is also a tool for strengthening shared values. The communication department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic informed TASR about this.
“We appreciate the progress that has been made in this area after years of stagnation, but many countries have been waiting too long to join the EU. Especially the Western Balkan states, whose citizens were promised a European vision two decades ago,” stated Blanár. He appreciated the publication of this year’s European Commission reports in the field of enlargement policy. According to him, the reports reflect the progress made by candidate countries and potential candidates over the year.
Blanár also highlighted the activities of seven states, including the Slovak Republic, in the informal group Friends of the Western Balkans. According to the foreign ministry, the aim of the group is to revive and accelerate the accession process of these countries to the EU. The minister recalled that with the support of this group, it was possible to approve a European financial instrument to support the socioeconomic development of the region. The instrument has a volume of six billion euros from 2024 to 2027.
According to the ministry, Slovakia welcomed the conditional opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and also the start of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in 2024. As the ministry highlighted, progress in the integration process was also achieved by Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The ministry emphasized that despite the currently suspended accession process, Slovakia also supports Georgia on its European path.
The Foreign Ministry also declared that relations with Turkey entered a new phase this year. The country remains a strategic partner of the EU and an ally within the North Atlantic Alliance.
“The Slovak Republic is commemorating the 20th anniversary of becoming a full-fledged sovereign member of the EU this year, which is a vital space for us. We naturally want to develop it, and that is why we are interested in helping in the integration process of the Western Balkan states and our eastern neighbors and sharing our pre-accession process experiences with them,” stated the minister. According to him, Slovakia advocates for enlargement policy to be among the EU’s priorities during the new institutional cycle. He also highlighted the need to prepare for this challenge in dialogue with all Union member countries. (November 1).
“Many countries have been waiting too long to join the EU. Especially the Western Balkan states, whose citizens were promised a European vision two decades ago.” Juraj Blanár
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