It was stated that Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed to support the Western Balkans’ path to European Union (EU) membership.
According to a statement made by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in the capital Ljubljana within the scope of the “Central 5” meeting.
Fajon said in his statement here that they discussed the EU’s expansion, the Western Balkans’ EU membership process, irregular migration and support for Ukraine.
Stating that the ministers agreed on the expansion of the EU, Fajon said, “Together with the Foreign Ministers of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, we once again expressed our support for the Western Balkan countries on their path to the EU.”
Fajon expressed his satisfaction with the start of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and noted that they discussed how they could help Bosnia and Herzegovina during the meeting.
Fajon said that assistance should be provided to reconstruction projects in Ukraine. “We must help Ukraine achieve a lasting and just peace and rebuild the country, both through EU mechanisms. Slovenia will continue to be very active here, especially in the areas of demining, rehabilitation of victims and psychosocial assistance to victims,” he said.
Fajon noted that they agreed to solve the issue of irregular migration in the region together with regard to human trafficking.
It was also stated that the issue of accelerating Montenegro’s EU membership process was discussed during the meeting.
