The working group on the Western Balkans was established to reflect the political priorities of the European Union and ensure a more coherent approach of the European Parliament to the region.
"EU enlargement will be the priority of my term as chair of the working group, in accordance with my earlier appointment as the European Parliament rapporteur for recommendations on the Western Balkans," Picula said on the occasion of his appointment.
He said that the Western Balkan countries are Croatia's considerable trading partners with which it shares a common history. "It is our paramount interest that we have other EU members on all of our external borders because that ensures our stability and security," he added.
Picula said that the Croatian presidency of the EU, which began on January 1, was an opportunity for Croatia to confirm its foreign policy priorities, including EU enlargement and stability in the Western Balkans.