Foreign ministers support EU integration of Western Balkans despite crisis

The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania on Monday adopted a joint declaration supporting the European integration of the Western Balkans despite the current difficulties in the European Union (EU). Nickolay Mladenov, Dimitris Avramopoulos and Titus Corlatean respectively agreed their countries would support regional ambitions for EU membership of all states based on the continuous, consistent and irreversible progress in economic and political reform and on the fulfilment of the necessary conditions and requirements. "The current difficulties facing the EU should not weaken the dynamics of the enlargement process. On the contrary, promoting the European integration of the Western Balkans can and should become part of the solution to the crisis," the joint declaration said. Bulgaria, Greece and Romania said they would share their expertise in the field of European and NATO integration with the aim of assisting potential candidates and aspiring countries to advance their bids. They agreed to jointly promote good neighborly relations, contributing to peace, stability, genuine reconciliation and modernization in the region. The foreign ministers condemned phenomena such as extreme nationalism and xenophobia.