Skopje, 3 April 2023 (MIA) - We need successful socio-economic transition and encouragement of the integration of the Western Balkan countries in the EU even before their membership, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani addressing the conference "New visions for the Western Balkans: EU accession and regional security" in Rome on Monday.  

"What we need to restore the positive trend in supporting the European integration process can be simply defined as achieving more and deeper integration even before membership. It is significant for our citizens to see a change for the better in everyday life," said Minister Osmani, who participated in the conference as part of a working visit to Rome for the Ministerial Meeting on the Western Balkans.

Osmani pointed out that the country positively contributes to regional stability by providing support to neighbors and by initiating new forms of cooperation.

"We have proven to be a responsible and reliable partner of the EU and NATO, positively contributing to regional stability by supporting our neighbors in overcoming open bilateral issues, such as the recent meeting within the Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which took place in Ohrid, and by initiating new formats of cooperation, such as the Initiative 8 along Corridor 8 with Bulgaria, Italy and Albania, the B6 initiative and the latest EU Four – EU Quad of Western Balkan countries that are fully aligned with the EU's foreign and security policy," Osmani added. 

In addition to the host, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, ministers of foreign affairs from the countries in the region, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, renowned experts and political analysts from think-tank institutes from the region, as well as high representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Regional Cooperation Council, OSCE Secretariat and CEFTA attended the conference in Rome, which was co-organised by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of International Affairs and OBC Transeuropa. 

Photo: MFA