Athens, 13 September 2023 (MIA) - I think this is the final momentum for the taking because I fear that people in the Western Balkans will stop caring about what the European Union thinks, says or does, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj told a panel discussion within international conference "The EU-accession perspectives of the Western Balkans in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine” on Wednesday, while highlighting that membership in 2030 is a realistic objective but should also serve as motivation, MIA reports from Athens.

Deputy PM Marichikj said the Western Balkans is surrounded by EU members and regional states are not distant countries that want membership, noting that the number of 18 million people in the candidate-states does not exceed the size of Romania's population.

He recalled that back in 2017, when he accompanied former PM Zoran Zaev to Brussels, they heard the messages "now is the momentum for settlement of the name issue", start of accession negotiations and reforms that were implemented in the coming years, but a new delay followed which "killed a large portion of the people's enthusiasm in the country".

"This was the moment that opened the door for some member-states to kill the momentum and open bilateral issues. Imagine, the public support for the EU fell from 80 to 60 percent in only three years. Therefore, I think now is the final momentum for the taking because I fear that people in the Western Balkans will stop caring about what the European Union thinks, says or does," said Marichikj.

He added that the region needs a specific date and a real plan, whereas 2030 is a realistic objective because the Union already has experience with big enlargements.

The Deputy PM said the path to the EU should serve as motivation, leading to a double success story in 2030.

"A success story for the Western Balkans and the final completion of our transition, and a success story for the EU and its enlargement with these member-states," noted Marichikj.

Marichikj took part at panel titled "A new momentum for enlargement: How can the Western Balkans not miss the opportunity?", chaired by European Policy Institute director Simonida Kacarska, also including Miroslav Gačević, Assistant Minister at the Department for Political and Economic Criteria in the Process of Accession to the European Union (Serbia), Odeta Barbullushi, Advisor to the Prime Minister and National Coordinator for Regional Economic Area (Albania), Jovana Marović, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro, and Srdjan Majstorović, Governing Board Chairman of the European Policy Centre (CEP) in Serbia.

The Athens conference was organized by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy ELIAMEP, with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis delivering the opening remarks.

Photo: MIA