EU Committed To Raise Cooperation With Western Balkans

The EU on Friday voiced commitment to strengthen cooperation with the Western Balkans during the Poznan Summit in Poland.

The heads of government, and foreign, economy and interior ministers from the Western Balkans together with their counterparts from several EU member states and high-level EU representatives met in Poznan from July 3-5 to discuss cooperation between Western Balkans and the EU.

"Our engagement with the Western Balkans is a priority. Today, all six partners in the Western Balkans are closer to the European Union compared to the beginning of our mandate almost five years ago. The European perspective remains the driver for change in the region," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

Mogherini said regional cooperation, good neighborly relations and reconciliation are key and support the EU integration of the Western Balkans.

Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said the EU increases work to modernized infrastructures, support digitalization, invest in green growth and circular economy.

"The EU programs will bring tangible benefits to the people in the Western Balkans and are another milestone in our even closer ties with the region," Hahn said in the statement. -