Goal of Czech EU Chair: Setting Date for Serbia, Montenegro's EU Accession

Jakub Kulhanek (commons.wikimedia/The Official CTBTO Photostreama.org/

Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek has announced that one of the priorities of his country's tenure at the helm of the European Union, which begins in the second half of next year, will be the Western Balkans, with the goal of setting a date for Serbia and Montenegro to become EU members.

I would consider it a success if we could release the date when Serbia and Montenegro might join the EU, Kulhanek said in a June 27 interview with the Czech News Agency.

Headway in the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans is the first of the Czech Republic's three foreign-policy priorities during its stint as EU chair, from July to the end of 2022.

It is a shame that no inter-governmental conferences have been held on integrating Albania and North Macedonia so as to help unblock EU accession talks for both countries. This is why I would like to hold a summit of member countries and Western Balkan countries during the Czech Republic's chair, Kulhanek said.