Key issues of European integration of the Western Balkans and interconnectivity in the transport and energy meets today in Thessaloniki Conference of Foreign Ministers of the 28 Member States of the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans.
At the conference , the proceedings of which will be held in Thessaloniki Concert Hall , will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
Eleven years after the summit in Thessaloniki – Halkidiki , which peaked the previous Greek Presidency and delivered the ” Thessaloniki Agenda 2014″ for the European perspective of the Western Balkans Ministerial Conference comes to associate the two Greek Presidencies.
In this context, the RES as reported in the first session, entitled “2004-2014″: Ten Years Enlargement and European Integration of the Western Balkans” , the participants are expected to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the European future of the region and the determination of the Western Balkans to continue on the path of reforms associated with the EU, but also to discuss the successes and challenges of enlargement policy, with a view to further promoting the “European agenda” of the Western Balkans.
In the shadow of developments in Ukraine, the conference will also discuss energy and transport issues. Specifically , in the second session, entitled “Beyond the Thessaloniki Agenda”: Connectivity in the areas of Transport and Energy “, participants will discuss the achievements and opportunities offered that can contribute to forming a European approach to the interconnectivity in the field of energy and transport.
Also, evaluation of investment needs in infrastructure in the field of transport and energy, and will exchange views on ways of enhancing cooperation and financial assistance in order to maximize the effect of combined available resources among others through creating a strategic framework for enhanced cooperation and financial support. It will also be discussed the role of government in promoting economic interconnectivity.
