Austria will make efforts so that issues related to the integration of the Western Balkans with the EU are placed high on the European agenda next year, she said.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva initiated the meeting between the foreign ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and the Austrian minister in light of the fact that Austria will soon take over the presidency of the European Union.
The meeting focused on bilateral and regional cooperation, development of the regional market and transport infrastructure, and cooperation in and the fight against organised crime.
Participants in the meeting, including Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, signed a joint declaration supporting the region's progress in the process of Euro-integration. They also sought from the Council of Europe and the European Commission support and guidelines for steps to be made towards full membership of the European Union.