“EU leaders reiterated their
intention to intensify efforts to strengthen the accession perspective of the
Western Balkan countries”, Government Spokesman, Mr Marios Pelekanos, said
today, referring to the work of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in which the
President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, participated.
In his statements to the media,
Mr Pelekanos, said that "the EU-Western Balkans Summit was held for the
first time in a country of the region and, more specifically, in Tirana, the
capital of Albania.
The participating leaders had
the opportunity, during the discussions, to emphasize once again the
importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western
Balkans. A relationship that becomes even more important after the Russian
invasion of Ukraine.
During the Summit, the leaders
had the opportunity to discuss ways of tackling the consequences of Russia's
aggression against Ukraine, which has increased challenges and dangers for
all countries of the old continent, including its partners in the Western
Balkans.
They also discussed the
progress of the EU's commitment to implement policies that will contribute to
strengthening the resilience of the Western Balkan countries in order for
them to be able to address the challenges of our time, such as migration, the
fight against terrorism and organized crime, the resolution of regional
conflicts, and foreign interference.
As far as migration is
concerned, our partners in the Western Balkans are called upon to manage the
issue in such a way so that the phenomenon of secondary migration flows from
the Western Balkans to other EU countries can be dealt with effectively.
The EU leaders also reiterated
their intention to intensify efforts to strengthen the accession perspective
of the Western Balkan countries, based on the principle of equality and
provided that these countries will work towards and accelerate the reforms
envisaged on the basis of accession procedures, for the benefit of their
economies and citizens.
It is noted that the European
Council will be called upon to decide, on the 15th of this month, whether the
status of accession country will be granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on
which Cyprus is in favour".
Furthermore, on the sidelines
of the Summit, the President of the Republic had separate bilateral contacts
with the President of Serbia, the President of Montenegro, the Head of the
Presidential Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prime Minister of
Albania.
(MH)
|