Blanar: Slovakia Backs Western Balkans EU Integration, Rejects Delays

Podgorica/Bratislava, 10 February (TASR-correspondent) - Slovakia wants to help Western Balkan countries in the process of integration into the EU and absolutely rejects slowing it down for political or technical reasons, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar declared at the start of his visit to Montenegro on Tuesday. Blanar is convinced that Montenegro will be ready to join the EU in 2028 if it carries out all the necessary reforms and completes the accession process. The foreign minister noted that some Western Balkan states were promised the prospect of EU membership as long as 20 years ago. Croatia was the last country to join the Union in 2013, and no other country has been admitted since then. "We see an opportunity for at least one Western Balkan country to become a member of the European Union after such a long time," Blanar said, adding that this positive signal needs to be sent to the countries and their people. Otherwise, he warned, frustration and growing scepticism about possible EU membership will continue. According to Blanar, Montenegro is the most advanced among the remaining states. He considers it very likely that Montenegro will join the EU in 2028. This is a goal Podgorica has set for itself and so far it has provisionally closed 13 of the total 33 accession chapters. Blanar said Slovakia is a strong supporter of the integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU and is present in the region. In this context, he pointed out that Slovakia participates in the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the KFOR mission in Kosovo. "This is clear proof that we have a strong interest in these countries joining the European Union as soon as possible and that all the accumulated problems rooted in history are resolved peacefully at the table within the EU," he stated. mf