Western Balkans for stronger ties and cooperation

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Countries of the Western Balkans continue to work together towards a common goal - safe environment, political stability and economic prosperity of the region.

(Tanjug)

This is what participants of an informal regional conference held in Belgrade on Thursday stressed in a joint statement.
This would ensure a better life for all our citizens, and promote our European prospects, said the foreign and finance ministers of the Western Balkan countries gathered for an informal meeting in the Serbian capital on Thursday.

The ministers discussed programs that could boost the economic growth and attract foreign direct investments to the region, improve structural reforms, regional cooperation and infrastructure projects, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release.

The conference on the topic of 'Economic management and ties' is a continuation of the talks that took place at an informal meeting in Kotor, Montenegro, in July, the consultations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, and the conference on the Western Balkans held on August 28 in Berlin, the release states.

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić said at the opening that, ever since it was launched, the initiative to hold meetings in this format has proved beneficial for empowered action, dialogue and cooperation in the region.

Dačić thanked the outgoing EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule for his engagement and dedication which contributed to the success of this format of meetings, and to the strengthening of ties between countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union.

Fuele said that the European Commission is ready to support better interconnection between the Western Balkan countries in terms of transport and energy, adding that EUR 1 billion will be allocated for that purpose through IPA funds and that favorable loans totaling EUR 10 billion will be provided by the international institutions by 2020.

Closer regional ties and comprehensive economic reforms will send a strong signal to potential investors, Fule pointed out.

A joint statement was adopted at the end of the meeting, whereby the countries in the region committed to coordinate their economic cooperation and forge stronger economic ties, in cooperation with the European Commission, and so create more space for economic growth and employment.