The EC presented the EU enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans, entitled "A credible enlargement perspective for the Western Balkans and a stronger EU commitment to them". What is Bulgaria's position as the EU Council President and the biggest advocate of enlargement and how is the document being received in Macedonia and Serbia? These are just some of the questions raised in our discussion.
On 13 February 2018, a discussion on the future of the Western Balkans and the new EU enlargement strategy took place at the House of Europe with the participation of
Panelists:
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Djema Grozdanova, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy
Ognyan Zlatev, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria
Prof. Jovan Teokarevic, Lecturer at the University of Belgrade and the College of Europe, Chairman of the Board of the Open Society Foundation - Serbia
Prof. Andrea Stoykovski, President of the Centre for European Strategies - Skopje
Moderator: Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the ECFR
During the discussion, the attitudes in the countries of the region regarding the prospect of EU membership were discussed. In the words of Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, the enlargement strategy is an incentive for the Western Balkan countries to implement the necessary reforms. Prof. Jovan Teokarevic noted that the results would have been better if the strategy had been presented 10 years earlier. Andrea Stojkovski commented that the European perspective for the Western Balkans is linked to the political security of the EU, especially in view of the growing Russian influence in the region.
A recording of the event can be found here.
ECFR Sofia
On 13 February 2018, a discussion on the future of the Western Balkans and the new EU enlargement strategy took place at the House of Europe with the participation of
Panelists:
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Djema Grozdanova, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy
Ognyan Zlatev, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria
Prof. Jovan Teokarevic, Lecturer at the University of Belgrade and the College of Europe, Chairman of the Board of the Open Society Foundation - Serbia
Prof. Andrea Stoykovski, President of the Centre for European Strategies - Skopje
Moderator: Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the ECFR
During the discussion, the attitudes in the countries of the region regarding the prospect of EU membership were discussed. In the words of Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, the enlargement strategy is an incentive for the Western Balkan countries to implement the necessary reforms. Prof. Jovan Teokarevic noted that the results would have been better if the strategy had been presented 10 years earlier. Andrea Stojkovski commented that the European perspective for the Western Balkans is linked to the political security of the EU, especially in view of the growing Russian influence in the region.
A recording of the event can be found here.
ECFR Sofia