Regional meeting in Athens

Heads of state and government have met in Athens, 20 years since the first summit that laid the foundations of the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans

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Corina Cristea, 22.08.2023, 14:00

Two decades since the summit held in Thessaloniki,
Greece, which laid the foundations of the EU enlargement in the Western
Balkans, heads of state and governments are now attending an informal summit,
called by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Aimed at reviewing
progress reported in recent years in terms of development cooperation in
South-Eastern Europe, as well as challenges linked to the conflict in Ukraine,
the summit brought together leaders from Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of
Moldova, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Bosnia
Herzegovina, as well as the presidents of the European Council and European
Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, respectively.

Attending
the summit was also the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting
sent a strong message of support for Ukraine, as well as for the Euro-Atlantic
perspective of the entire region. We must bring our friends, future members of
the EU, closer to us and faster. We will continue to bring down barriers
between our regions, the European Commission president wrote on social media.
With regard to EU enlargement, the meeting focused on energy security and
sanctions against Russia, to which Belgrade has not yet subscribed. In fact,
following the objection of Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, the call for new
sanctions against Russia was eliminated from the final resolution of the
meeting in Athens. Participants also highlighted the importance of continuing
constant dialogue and coordination in terms of ensuring regional economic cooperation
and security and reiterated solidarity with Ukraine and the Republic of
Moldova. In addition, participants reiterated support for the EU enlargement
process in the Western Balkans and in the eastern vicinity.

In his address,
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu outlined Romania’s support for Ukraine, as well
as challenges facing Romanian farmers with regard to regulations on Ukrainian
grain exports. In this context, Marcel Ciolacu suggested the creation of a
European mechanism for the management of grain transports and earmarking
additional funds for the food industry and for the development of related
infrastructure. In addition, the Romanian Prime Minister underlined the need
for Romania quickly joining the Schengen Area. In his talks with European
Commission president, Marcel Ciolacu asked for stepping up joint efforts to
ensure Romania’s Schengen accession. Last but not least, the Romanian official
called for greater unity at European level and suggested the development of
joint regional projects in the fields of energy, trade and combating hybrid
threats. In Athens, Marcel Cioalcu also discussed with his Greek counterpart
about expanding bilateral and regional cooperation. In his meeting with
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Marcel Ciolacu assured the Ukrainian president of Romania’s
support for Ukraine until the end of the conflict and for its assistance in the
country’s reconstruction. (VP)