FOCUS — Tajani: Western Balkan Countries in the EU as Soon as Possible

TRIESTE, September 17 /ATSH-ANSA/ — The Western Balkan countries are European and we must bring them, as is their right, into the European Union as soon as possible, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

“In this regard, however, Europe must not take a hostile stance; in the accession procedures we must be rigorous but not obstructive. If we delay the process with a bureaucratic stance, we risk losing the Balkans politically, because there are different interests from Russia, China and the Arab countries. For Italy this is a political priority,” he said, speaking at the dialogue themed “Accelerating Western Balkan integration, a strategic choice for Europe’s future.”

The round table was also attended by Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Enver Ibrahimović, as part of the Annual Forum of the Observatory for Southeast Europe, in Trieste.

Tajani recalled that “as Italy we invest; we have a strong presence in Montenegro, between Kosovo and Serbia, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and we are working so that, in the shortest possible time, the Western Balkan countries can become part of our Europe. This will enable the West to be stronger.”

Minister Tajani also made a reference to the IMEC corridor, which, according to him, “will enable all the Balkan and Central European countries to have economic growth.”

However, we must “work to reduce tensions in the Balkans,” so that there is “stability,” which enables “economic growth.”

“European defense is not against NATO, but it is the European pillar of NATO,” Tajani added.

Regarding conflicts in the Balkans, Tajani stressed that “as soon as these countries are in the European Union, conflicts will also tend to ease.”