Top regional leaders from the Balkan states participated in a high level European Policy Summit organized by the Friends of Europe today. Speakers included Milan Rocen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Montenegro, Imer Selmani, Deputy Prime Minister, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Adnan Terzic, Prime Minister, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, Giulian Amato, Italian Minister of the Interior, and Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Research.
Participants discussed Balkan political stability and the recent and upcoming reshaping of the region’s borders. The regional leaders considered the European accession goals of the individual states and the role that regional cooperation plays in fulfilling European aspirations. The necessity of regional alliances was recognized by several panelists. All regional leaders talked of the importance of internal reforms as they progress toward European integration. Participants also debated the state of Balkan economic integration and the impact that the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) will have on the region.
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