Skopje, 20 February 2022 (MIA) — Addressing a Munich Security Conference panel titled “A Hole in the Heart of Europe? Back to the Balkans” on Sunday morning, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said the region wasn’t a hole but the heart of Europe and should continue to make progress in reconciliation and settling bilateral disputes as well as implement fundamental reforms, especially regarding the rule of law, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. This should be done in a European spirit, based on the revised accession methodology, Minister Osmani said. The goal of the discussion was to reaffirm the European Union's approach to the Western Balkans as a strategic and credible partner for Europe. “Any failure to maintain the Western Balkans’ European trajectory may have dramatic consequences for the countries in the region and the EU, including in terms of security and migration,” Osmani pointed out. He also elaborated on North Macedonia's efforts toward EU membership. Other panelists included Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, US ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith, UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade – Prishtina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajčák, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Sir Stuart Peach as well as other regional foreign ministers, the MFA adds. mr/