LJUBLJANA/LONDON, March 3 (Hina) - Slovenia's minister for European affairs and newly-elected European commissioner Janez Potocnik said in London on Wednesday the EU had to take the Western Balkans into consideration for future
enlargement. To help the region's countries prepare for admission, the EU should increase its financial aid to them, he added.
LJUBLJANA/LONDON, March 3 (Hina) - Slovenia's minister for European
affairs and newly-elected European commissioner Janez Potocnik said in
London on Wednesday the EU had to take the Western Balkans into
consideration for future enlargement. To help the region's countries
prepare for admission, the EU should increase its financial aid to
them, he added.#L#
According to Slovenia's STA news agency, Potocnik mentioned the
Western Balkans in an address on European Union enlargement and
Slovenia's position on the post-enlargement situation in the EU,
delivered at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Potocnik said Slovenia primarily wanted to be a model of successful
transition for the region's countries. He said that Europe was
currently turning its focus from the Western Balkans, but warned that
despite everything, the region must be on the map of future
enlargement.
The EU should increase financial aid to countries in the region so as
to help them prepare for admission, Potocnik said.
According to STA, Potocnik cautioned that freezing budgetary
expenditure in the EU to one percent of GDP would be harmful as it
would reduce the chances of the European cohesion policy as the
foundation of the principle of solidarity in Europe. He said that if
accepted, it would also raise the question of financing a joint
agricultural policy.
(Hina) ha sb