“The sustainable development, stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans are vital for the well-being of citizens in the region and for the European Union itself,” said State Secretary Dovžan. He stressed that the political will of both sides is crucial for the continuation of the Union’s enlargement process. The countries of the region need to accelerate the resumption of reforms, while good neighbourly relations and the resolution of outstanding issues are also crucial.

The panel on EU enlargement was attended by Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, and Majlinda Bregu, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council. The participants also discussed the opportunities for the citizens of the region to participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe, the contribution of civil society to the green transition and sustainable development, and the state of social dialogue in the region.

As Chair of the Council of the European Union, Slovenia is committed to making EU enlargement to the Western Balkans the bloc’s geostrategic priority. The Union must send a clear message to the Western Balkans regarding its European perspective. The EU-Western Balkans Summit, hosted by Slovenia on 6 October 2021, will be an opportunity to do just that.

On the sidelines of the Forum, State Secretary Dovžan met with Zoran Popov, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, and Edmond Ademi, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia. Talks focused on bilateral relations between Slovenia and North Macedonia, EU enlargement and the resilience of the Western Balkans, with an emphasis on the social and economic recovery of the region.