SALZBURG, July 1 (Hina) - A united Europe is a unique opportunity for creating peace, stability and democracy in the entire continent, and the expansion of the EU is necessary for this goal and this process is not losing momentum,
participants of a discussion on the EU expansion held in Salzburg today agreed. The European Economic Summit, at which heads of states and governments, as well as business people from central and eastern Europe will be discussing the expansion of the European Union in the next three days, opened in Salzburg Monday under the organisation of the World Economic Forum. The summit gathers more than 600 representatives from 45 countries, including 10 presidents or prime ministers from central and eastern Europe. The conference is also attended by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic and president of the Croatian Privatisation Fund, Hrvoje Vojkovic. Today's conference began with
SALZBURG, July 1 (Hina) - A united Europe is a unique opportunity
for creating peace, stability and democracy in the entire
continent, and the expansion of the EU is necessary for this goal
and this process is not losing momentum, participants of a
discussion on the EU expansion held in Salzburg today agreed.
The European Economic Summit, at which heads of states and
governments, as well as business people from central and eastern
Europe will be discussing the expansion of the European Union in the
next three days, opened in Salzburg Monday under the organisation
of the World Economic Forum.
The summit gathers more than 600 representatives from 45 countries,
including 10 presidents or prime ministers from central and eastern
Europe.
The conference is also attended by Croatian President Stjepan
Mesic, Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic and president of the
Croatian Privatisation Fund, Hrvoje Vojkovic.
Today's conference began with a discussion on whether the EU
expansion is losing its momentum.
"The only true issue is how to expedite the expansion of the EU,"
Croatia's Mesic said.
According to him, the uniting of Europe is both a political and
economic necessity to the continent can resist the challenges of
globalisation and secure peace and stability.
Mesic stressed the need of the European Union to assist candidate
countries in meeting conditions for joining the Union.
Croatia is prepared to accept forms of regional cooperation, but
only as a stepping stone for joining the EU, President Mesic
stressed.
Serbian prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was greeted with an applause
for the recent handover of former Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic to the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. During his speech
Djindjic said the fact he was in Salzburg meant that the situation
in his country was completely safe for potential investors.
Europe should invest into the stability of the Southeast European
region as this will cost a lot less than the crises which erupted in
the region cost, Djindjic stressed.
Addressing President Mesic and Prime Minister Djindjic, European
Commission commissioner Guenter Verheugen said Croatia and
Yugoslavia also have the right to become members of the EU, and the
integration into the EU is the best way for stabilising the region.
(hina) lml