Borrell: We are late, we must speed up EU enlargement in the Western Balkans

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell, said that Europe is not complete until the Western Balkans become part of it and that it is necessary to speed up the enlargement process, which has been delayed for a long time.

“The previous expansion was a success story. Further expansion will also be a success story. The problem is because it is being delayed for too long. Now we have to speed it up. Let’s not forget that Europe is not complete until (Western Balkan countries) become members”, said Borrelli in his speech at the European Forum after receiving the Dr. Alois Mock Europe.

Borel emphasized that the key word of the first wave of EU enlargement was the market, today the key word is security.

“We are facing significant threats, we live in a dangerous landscape. But be careful, national solutions and building walls will not be the solution for Europeans”, he said.

He added that democracy is not spreading, but authoritarian regimes are returning, freedoms are under threat and everything is turning into weapons – energy, food, technology, migration.”

“And within Europe we see the return of authoritarian ideas, which have done us a lot of harm in the past. I think Europe is moving away from a Europe open to the world and eager to find common solutions towards a Europe of wars and national solutions”, he warned and added that it is necessary to build bridges because the world needs a Europe that stands for freedom, prosperity and social cohesion.

Schallenberg said that the Western Balkans is “culturally, psychologically and emotionally” a close neighbor of the European Union.

“There is no doubt and I believe we agree that the Western Balkans is already part of the European family, it belongs to it. I am always strict with those who claim that the region is the backyard of the EU, this is completely wrong. We are not complete until they are part of our family and we must speed up this process”, said the Austrian minister.

The European Forum is being held in Wachau, Austria and will continue until tomorrow.

During the forum, the high representative of the EU will participate in working meetings and discussions with Schallenberg, ministers of foreign affairs from the Western Balkans, representatives of think tanks and civil society organizations.

He will also meet bilaterally with representatives of the Western Balkans.