Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) hold an exchange of views with the Speakers of the Parliaments from the Western Balkans on the key role of Parliaments in the EU enlargement proces, in Brussels. Extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments.

2nd European Parliament - Western Balkans Speakers Summit: extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments

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Cutaways of the meeting, arrivals, roundtable (15 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), In the course of the previous months, this AFET committee worked on the 2019-2020 enlargement report, which were adopted in the plenary during the semester and in which we reiterated our strong support for the EU path of the entire region. We have also made sure that our political support is reflected in the financial assistance. This is why we have been increasing consistently working on reaching the political agreement on the 14 billion euro. 14 billion euro worth pre-accession assistance instrument for the Western Balkans, which we trust will contribute to achieving the necessary reforms in the region.

SOUNDBITE (Slovenian), Igor ZORCIC, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, The enlargement process of the Western Balkans is not at a dead end. It is still alive. This is why Slovenia will make an effort that during our own presidency, we will focus on this issue. It is also our priority during our presidency. The idea of the EU is just not an idea of an already completed project. But this is a project that is ongoing. It is a process that also has a strategic interest for the EU.

SOUNDBITE (null),  Gramoz RU&#199;I, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, (in Albanian) The Albanian parliament has also strengthened its cooperation with the civil society, the academic society, community of business and so on, in order to meet the standards of integration. The Albanian parliament every year has put, through its work plan, the implementation of the recommendation of the European Council at the centre of its agenda. And all the others have to do with enhanced transparency and the increased capacities of the work of the Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Glauk KONJUFCA, President of the Assembly of Kosovo, The danger lies in the fact that for the first time in the history of the EU, the term "deepening" weights more than the term "enlargement". In the case this occurs, we are threatened by a major tectonic shift, which is a direct consequence of the subordination of the threat than traditional policy of the centre to the extremes of populist. We are in need of a new European courage and optimism as that of 2004, Western Balkans countries will either all access EU jointly or it will be very difficult to imagine each of them joining the EU separately.

SOUNDBITE (null), Aleksa BECIC, President of the Parliament of Montenegro, (in Montenegrin) Despite some challenges that the first change of government implies, we are aware that Montenegro cannot reach European Union membership equally fast without cooperating with our neighbours. That's why we are open to build the best relations with our neighbours, because only if the Western Balkans is successful, is prosperous. It can truly be a part of the most advanced alliance in the world, in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (null), Talat XHAFERI, President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, (in Macedonian) The Republic of Northern Macedonia last decade face a very sensitive period internally and internationally. Our country marked progress in priority areas, which has radically changed the situation in some of our sectors and considerably improved our relations with neighbours to overcome open issues which require diplomacy, tolerance and concessions, which I congratulated and hailed by all our friends, the EU and the United States. That commitment help us to get the green light to start negotiations on membership.

SOUNDBITE (Serbian), Ivica DACIC, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, I assure you that we remain open for an even more intensive cooperation and every sort of supports because this is our common goal. And Serbia, I will say that in the end supports the accession process of all the countries in the region.

2nd European Parliament - Western Balkans Speakers Summit: extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments

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