The possibility of at least one country in the Western Balkans joining the European Union by 2027 has been raised by the foreign minister.
This assessment was made by the foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, noting that during the Greek presidency Athens aspires to welcome a new state into the European family.
As he announced, a Declaration will be signed with the participation of Greece, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Macedonia, strengthening cooperation and the European perspective of the region.
Mr. Gerapetritis stressed that the enlargement of the European Union will make Europe stronger and more resilient in a highly volatile and challenging geopolitical environment.
Greece has taken a strong initiative to accelerate the accession of the Western Balkan states to the EU. It is a matter of stability, peace and prosperity, these states are the heart of Europe, the minister stressed.
The aim is to close all accession chapters by incorporating EU legislation, and to achieve optimal interconnectivity between the states in areas such as transport and energy.
Georgos Gerapetritis acknowledged that there have been failures and disappointments in the past, and noted that the new declaration renews and reinvigorates the objectives of the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda to speed up the EU enlargement process through the accession of the Western Balkan countries.
There is an action plan, the second half of the year will be crucial for enlargement. It is a difficult and fragile process, the minister pointed out. Greece will provide technical assistance to all countries, and a specific timetable with measurable targets is set. The European Union will be stronger together with our neighbours, Gerapetritis stressed.
