Jovanovic attends Bratislava meeting on EU integration of Western Balkans

BRATISLAVA - State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nevena Jovanovic attended on Tuesday in Bratislava a meeting of FMs of the Friends of the Western Balkans group and Western Balkan countries.

"During the meeting, held in a constructive atmosphere, the participants discussed current issues related to the European integration process of the region, with particular emphasis on the importance of the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into certain European Union policies and mechanisms, as well as on strengthening regional cooperation and connectivity across various fields," the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

"The participants underlined that the Western Balkans constitutes an integral part of Europe and stressed the necessity of ensuring continuity in the European Union accession process, so that candidate countries may gradually experience the tangible benefits of the integration process and approach EU membership with an enhanced level of preparedness.

Special attention was also devoted to the security dimension of European integration, with participants highlighting the importance of closer cooperation between current and future European Union member states in addressing shared challenges.

Finally, strong support was reaffirmed by the member states of the Friends of the Western Balkans group for the further advancement of the European integration process of the region, along with an assessment that closer cooperation and gradual integration are essential for the overall stability, prosperity, and European future of the European continent," it also said.