Arraiolos Group backs EU integration in Western Balkan region

The leaders of the Arraiolos Group on Thursday supported the European Union (EU) membership perspective of the Western Balkan region, at the end of their 12th annual meeting here.

"We all support the membership perspective of the Western Balkans into the EU, the door is open, and there is a perspective," Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev told a joint press conference with his counterparts from Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Hungary and Finland.

The European project would not be completed without full integration of the Western Balkans, Plevneliev said.

The Balkans were very important for the EU, and this has been seen when the migration crisis was at its peak in 2015, he said.

"Brexit sends, according to all of us, a worrying signal of disintegration," said Plevneliev, adding that the membership in the Western Balkan region will "send the opposite message -- about integration and perspective."

German President Joachim Gauck echoed that the positive changes in the Balkans should be accelerated.

Accession processes have always contributed to reforms in the countries, therefore the Western Balkans needed a perspective for accession, Gauck said.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella added that the gradual enlargement of the EU in recent decades has always sought peace, stability and security.

In the coming months, the desire for EU membership in the Western Balkan region would be confirmed, and "we will do it in a very explicit way," Mattarella said.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in turn that it would be a huge mistake not to give a clear sign from the EU to the Western Balkan region about enlargement.

Integration was the key to peace and security in Europe, he said. Endit