EU Needs Balkans Just as Balkans Need EU, Panel Told

Bled, 30 August - A panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration heard warnings that the EU should not ignore the importance of the region for Europe. If the EU wants to be a global economic force, it must continue to expand, Kosovo Minister for European Integration Besim Beqaj said in Bled on Monday.

Bled
Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
US analyst Daniel Serwer at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokivic at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
Kosovo Minister for European Integration Besim Beqaj at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
Slovenian Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic (left) and Canadian Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay (centre) at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
Slovenian Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic (centre) and Canadian Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay (right) at a panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
A panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
A panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
A panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

Bled
A panel on the progress of the Balkans towards EU integration as part of the Bled Strategic Forum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA

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