The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka participated in the international conference “Quo Vadis Europa?” at the invitation of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell.

During her speech, in the session “Enlargement and Neighborhood/ Western Balkans on the way to the European Union”, Minister Xhaçka emphasized that the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine woke up the European Union, and forced it to think strategically regarding the enlargement.

“It took a war, but today the EU is focused as never before and it is showing a willingness to act strategically vis a vis the Western Balkans. There is a real change in the EU’s approach towards the Western Balkans, which we can only hope will last and will become concrete in the future”, said Minister Xhaçka

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, emphasized that the EU should give a clear signal by defining a preliminary deadline for the integration of the region, which, according to her, would provide a framework and a clear aim of what should achieved and when it will be achieved.

“We hope the EU will work with us on thinking about economic and social convergence because without helping the region narrow the development gap that in recent years has widened and not narrowed between the region and the EU, we will hardly make it further on the EU path. Last but certainly not least, I want to stress the need for messages of support and encouragement from our European partners and a commitment on their part that enlargement will be merit based process”, underlined Minister Xhaçka

Political leaders from EU member states, Ukraine and other candidate countries, MEPs, university professors and experts of the most relevant geopolitical issues participated at the conference “Quo Vadis Europa?” organized in Snatander, Spain.