[ad_1]
The European Union’s foreign ministers will discuss on May 16 – in addition to Russian aggression in Ukraine – the European bloc’s relations with the Western Balkans.
Later on Monday, they will also have a joint meeting with the diplomats of the six countries of this region.
“Discussions on the Western Balkans, in the meeting of 27 ministers, as well as those when the EU ministers meet together with those of the countries in the region, will be the joint confrontation with the challenges and consequences created by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. ”.
A document prepared for Monday’s discussions says Russia’s aggression has created significant changes in geopolitical alignments.
“More than ever, the Western Balkans are expected to be committed to European values as future member states. “The EU must line up with its partners to uphold common values and key international norms, and to condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine as a grave violation of international law and a threat to global peace and security,” the statement said. .
Vucic says he will resist as much as he can to not sanction Russia
According to diplomatic sources, the main pressure will be on Serbia, as the only Western Balkan country that has not backed EU sanctions on Russia.
In Brussels, EU officials continue to try to relativize Serbia’s stance, emphasizing the fact that Serbia voted in the UN General Assembly to condemn Russia’s aggression and voted to expel it. by the Commission on Human Rights.
But many EU member states claim that this, while welcome, is not enough and that Serbia should also support sanctions, and especially not allow them to be circumvented through Serbia.
The EU says it welcomes the fact that Kosovo as a whole has supported the West’s positions on the war in Ukraine, although it is not formally required to do so.
EU sources say the European bloc should have clear messages for the Western Balkans. In this regard, sources claim, visa liberalization for Kosovo should happen as soon as possible.
Monday’s meeting is expected to discuss the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European Union, started in 2011.
The parties have reached dozens of agreements, but most of them have not been implemented on the ground. On May 14, the foreign ministers of the group of seven most industrialized countries in the world (G7) called on the two countries to engage constructively in dialogue and reach an agreement on the normalization of relations.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
