Poland for inclusion of Western Balkan countries into EU - official

The Polish official underlined that the Budapest summit was proof that "the integration of Western Balkan countries with the EU still arouses the interest of people and politicians."

"And the presence of representatives of the Visegrad Group shows the support we have been constantly offering on this uneasy road," she said.

"Poland is a firm supporter of the inclusion of the Western Balkan countries into the EU. We believe that this is a move designed to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in Europe," she went on to say.

"We believe that the EU must implement its unequivocal obligation to support the European integration of this region - as this is a question of solidarity, support of socio-economic development in the EU's direct neighbourhood and the EU's strategic striving for ensuring peace on the entire continent."

Witek added that joining the EU could not be "a moving goal or a game according to rules which are constantly being changed by one of the sides."

"That is why we believe that the lack of agreement of some EU members to start accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is an error, which may produce serious, negative consequences for the region," Witek said.

The Polish Sejm speaker as well as the president of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Kubera, and the speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Denko, have been invited to attend as special guests.  

In mid-October the majority of EU leaders supported the proposal to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. But France, supported by the Netherlands and Denmark, came out against the move and made it impossible to launch negotiations. Some EU leaders talked about a historical error. (PAP)

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