EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Conference (Thessaloniki, 7-8 May 2014)

MFA, Tuesday, 06 May 2014

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Within the framework of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a Conference of the Foreign Ministers of the 28 EU member states and the countries of the Western Balkans is being held in Thessaloniki on Thursday, 8 May 2014. The Conference will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

Eleven years after the 2003 Thessaloniki/Chalkidiki summit meeting – which was the culmination of the previous Hellenic Presidency, and at which the Thessaloniki Agenda for the countries of the Western Balkans was set down – the Ministerial Conference comes to link these two Hellenic Presidencies.

In the first session of the Conference, on the topic of “2004-2014: Ten Years of Enlargement and the European Integration of the Western Balkans,” participants will

a) reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the region’s European future, as well as the Western Balkan countries’ resolve to pursue the path of EU-related reforms.

b) discuss achievements and challenges of the enlargement policy, with a view to further promoting the European agenda in the Western Balkans.

During the working luncheon, participants will

a) exchange views on how to strengthen the European integration of the Western Balkans in real terms, through connectivity in the energy and transport sectors within the region and with the EU, while promoting growth, competitiveness and employment, in parallel with the accession process of each country.

b) discuss connectivity in broader geostrategic terms.

In the second session, on the topic of “Beyond the Thessaloniki Agenda: Transport and Energy Connectivity,” participants will

a) discuss the achievements of and opportunities offered by regional fora that can contribute to an EU approach to connectivity in the energy and transport sectors.

b) assess the needs of investment in infrastructure in the transport and energy sectors and exchange views on ways and means of enhancing cooperation and financial assistance in order to maximize the impact of the combined available funds, including through the establishment of a strategic framework for enhanced cooperation and financial assistance.

c) discuss the role of economic governance in promoting connectivity.

Upon the completion of the Conference (15:30), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos will hold a press conference.
On the eve of the Ministerial Conference, Wednesday, 7 May, at the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Venizelos will

• have a bilateral meeting, at 16:30, with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin.

• have a bilateral meeting, at 17:30, with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean.

A trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Romania and Bulgaria will take place at 18:30.
On the margins of the Conference, on Thursday, 8 May, Mr. Venizelos will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the countries of the Western Balkans.

mfa.gr

6/5/14