Former European Commissioner and MEP Dimitris Avramopoulos participated as a key speaker in a high-level Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on: “The New Security Geopolitics: How Will It Impact the EU and Its Enlargement?”.
The conference was co-organized by the think tank “Friends of the Western Balkans” and the “Nizami Ganjavi International Center”, with the participation of leading figures of the international political scene, as well as a large number of ambassadors and national representatives.
Among the participants were:
- Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia
- Andrzej Duda, former President of Poland
- Borut Pahor, former President of Slovenia
- Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, former President of Croatia
- Rosen Plevneliev, former President of Bulgaria
- Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria
- Boris Tadić, former President of Serbia
- Filip Vujanović, former President of Montenegro
- Mladen Ivanić, former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
- Dumitru Braghiș, former Prime Minister of Moldova
- Zlatko Lagumdžija, Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN and former Prime Minister
- Volkan Bozkır, President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly
- Afrim Gashi, Speaker of the Parliament of North Macedonia
- Ditmir Bushati, former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Albania
- Milica Pejanović-Đurišić, former Minister of Defence of Montenegro
- Rene Troccaz, French Special Envoy for the Western Balkans
- Ulrike Hartmann, Austrian Special Envoy for the Western Balkans
- Thomas Botzios, Italian Special Envoy for the Western Balkans
- Anzej Franges, Special Representative of Slovenia for the Western Balkans
- Jan Kubiš, Advisor to the President of Slovakia and former senior official of international organisations.
In his speech, Avramopoulos stressed that the international community is in a period of deep geopolitical upheaval, where security and power are returning to the centre of developments.
He stressed that the European Union is at a crucial crossroads, as enlargement is no longer a mere institutional process, but a strategic necessity.
Avramopoulos also pointed out that in an environment of increasing competition and instability, Europe cannot leave geopolitical gaps, as these are inevitably covered by other powers.
In this context, he characterised enlargement as the strongest geopolitical tool of the European Union, which acts as a shield of stability, democracy and security.
He made special reference to the war in Ukraine, which he described as a turning point for the European continent, noting that it clearly highlighted the need for a more powerful and geopolitically mature Europe.
He also stressed that the integration of the Western Balkan countries is not only a benefit for the countries themselves, but an investment in overall European security and stability.
In conclusion, Avramopoulos stressed that Europe is now called upon to take strategic decisions with a long-term horizon, demonstrating unity, political will and a clear geopolitical orientation for its future.
