Yuri Sterk: European perspective of Western Balkans not just priority of Bulgarian EU Presidency but way for EU to establish itself as global player
07 March 2018 News
‘The Western Balkans are important not just as a priority of the Bulgarian Presidency. The revival of their European perspective is also a way for the European Union to share its values with the countries of the region while at the same time reaffirming its role as a global player that never leaves a job unfinished.’ Those were the words of Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Sterk at his meeting today with Jerzy Pomianowski, the Executive Director of the European Endowment for Democracy.
During their meeting, the two agreed that as a result of the global challenges, the migrant crisis, Brexit and enlargement fatigue, the EU had left the Western Balkans for too long off its agenda. ‘We are happy to have been so successful in putting the European perspective of our neighbors back into the focus of attention of European policy,’ said the Bulgarian diplomat. Bulgaria has been promoting for years the development of civil society, the democratic institutions and the building of a socially relevant infrastructure in the region through its national policy of cooperation for development. In that context, Deputy Minister Sterk drew attention to the fact that the inclusion of the Western Balkans into the geographic scope of activity of the European Endowment for Democracy is yet another step in support of the process of European integration that the countries in the region are already pursuing.
‘We look positively at the 2025 time horizon, but it is only attainable if the countries in the Western Balkans fulfill all criteria,’ the Bulgarian diplomat said. Yuri Sterk pointed out that the politicians and institutions should also provide the necessary support to civil society in the region. ‘The democratic institutions need an active and critically minded civil sector,’ the Deputy Minister said, adding that the European Endowment for Democracy has an important role to play in these processes. Guaranteeing the rule of law, the building of democratic institutions and the freedom of the media are among the priority topics the Fund will be addressing in the Western Balkans region.