Schallenberg urges EU integration: Western Balkans by 2030!

Schallenberg urges EU integration: Western Balkans by 2030!

in Rome, the Austrian interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday for a decisive discussion about the future EU integration of the Western Balkans. Schallenberg emphasized that the expansion of the European Union was not only a question of geopolitical stability, but also an essential security question for Europe and especially Austria. "Either we export stability and security or we run the risk of importing instability," he explained, while he also introduced the initiative of the group "Friends of the Western Balkans", which was launched in 2023 to push the gradual integration of this region into the EU, as well as krone.at reported.

important topics of negotiations

The talks were not only about the integration of the Western Balkans, where Schallenberg strives for all countries in the region to become a member of the EU by 2030, but also to significant bilateral issues. The two leading politicians discussed the challenges in the field of migration and measures to strengthen security and defense policy. "Italy is an indispensable partner for us," says Schallenberg, who underlined strategic relationships with Italy as the basis for a strong Europe that is determined by the current challenges, such as kleinezeitung.at reported.

Another challenging topic was the situation on the burner and the further development of South Tyrol autonomy. Schallenberg emphasized that the problems on the burner can only be solved in dialogue and called for the progress in the Autonomy reform in South Tyrol. This discussion illustrated the close connection between the two nations while working together on a stable and integrative EU.