Western Balkans' European Future Among Priorities of Slovenia's EU Presidency

Anze Logar (Wikimedia/UKOM)

The European future of the Western Balkan countries and continuation of the EU enlargement process will be one of the four priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency, presented by Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar.

Alongside the situation in the EU's neighborhood and the development of transatlantic relations, the priorities and goals of the Slovenian presidency will also include strengthening the resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the Union, a debate on the future of Europe, and the strengthening of European values, the 27-member bloc has stated.

Logar said that as the presiding country Slovenia "cannot neglect the active and visible role of the EU in the international community," adding that "the European future of the Western Balkan countries and continuation of the enlargement process must become a strategic interest of the Union."

"Our roadmap is focused on the socio-economic recovery and integration of the Western Balkans into various European policy areas, from infrastructure, transportation and energy connectivity to research and innovation, decarbonization, digitalization and cyber resilience. All this is crucial for a safe Union, which we would like to point out at the summit of the EU and the Western Balkans which Slovenia will host in the fall," said Logar.

Presenting the priorities and goals a week before Slovenia is to officially take over management of the EU, Logar said that presiding over the Union was "an opportunity to strengthen integration within the EU and within its institutions and to direct development toward an innovative and creative community based on sustainable development."