Slovakia to Host Ministerial Meeting of Friends of Western Balkans States

Bratislava, 7 May (TASR) - Slovakia is set to host a ministerial meeting of the member states of the Friends of the Western Balkans group at Bratislava Castle on Tuesday (12 May), the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Thursday, adding that the event is being held under the auspices of Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD). "I consider it to be a significant signal of our support for the Western Balkans that, in my capacity as foreign minister, I can host the first-ever ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans in Slovakia. Slovak diplomacy thus reaffirms the Slovak Republic's position as a respected partner that has long provided stable and active assistance to the countries of the Western Balkans on their path to the European Union," stated Blanar. The event will be attended by foreign ministers from the member states of the Friends of the Western Balkans group (Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and representatives from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia), along with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. According to the foreign minister, the talks will focus on the need to accelerate the accession process of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union, regional cooperation, and strengthening mutual coordination in the EU enlargement process. The discussion will also address current security challenges and opportunities for closer cooperation in the field of European security between EU member states and partners from the Western Balkans, noted the ministry. "These countries have been waiting for a European future for two decades, and many of them have made significant progress through the demanding reforms they have implemented. It is time for the European Union to show the Western Balkans that it is serious about their European integration," pointed out Blanar, noting that Slovak diplomacy has therefore prepared a specific proposal to energise the accession process, which it will present at the meeting. am/mcs