The Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Megi Fino, participated in the regional conference “Western Balkans join the Dialogue on the Future of Europe”, organized by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held on the occasion of the Thessaloniki International Fair. In this event were invited the Foreign Ministers of the six Western Balkan countries and the Slovenian Foreign Minister, in the capacity as the EU Presidency.

In her speech, Deputy Minister Fino stressed that the countries of the Western Balkans must be part of the discussions on the future of Europe because we share a common future with other European countries and there can be no sustainable project to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in Europe without the involvement of the Western Balkans. Still today, the lesson of the 2003 EU-WB Summit is that there can be no future for Europe without the inclusion of the Western Balkans.

Deputy Minister Fino also underlined that Europe must remain close and tangible for the 6 countries of the Western Balkans and in this regard will be necessary for Albania and North Macedonia to get the date for the First Intergovernmental Conference for the opening of negotiations with the European Union as soon as possible. EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is in Europe’s strategic interest, while EU membership marks a strategic goal for the Western Balkans.

Thanking the Greek partners for organizing and holding this event, which comes at the right time, Deputy Minister Fino stressed that Greece has been and remains a supporter of the EU integration of the Western Balkan countries and a promoter of Albania’s EU integration process.