On 14 October, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania proposed to the European Commission the creation of a European Strategy for the Western Balkans, aimed at strengthening the European accession course of these countries and promoting good neighborly relations, in line with the priorities of the European Commission and the whole of the European Union.
The joint letter – which the Foreign Ministers of the three countries addressed to the EU High Representative for foreign and security policy, Catherine Ashton, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, and Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn – notes that the goal of the European Strategy is the creation of a cohesive framework for region cooperation between the member states and the Western Balkans. The initiative focuses on confronting issues that transcend national borders – including the environment, transport, energy, migration, and the combatting of corruption and organized crime – through specific programmes that answer to the needs of the citizens of these countries.
Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis noted that “support for the accession prospects of the countries of the Western Balkans is a longstanding Greek position. Following up on the positive momentum already created this year, the Strategy we are proposing today is a component part of “Agenda 2014”, our country’s initiative for the 2014 Greek EU Presidency, which we have already announced.”
October 17, 2011