Greece's Simitis wants the EU to focus on the Balkans
Published:
21 June 2003 y., Saturday
The Balkans are set to move to centre stage on Saturday as leaders of the European Union continue their summit in the Greek resort of Porto Carras.
Five Balkan countries hope to join the union within the next several years: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.
The EU will press them hard to make reforms on issues ranging from co-operating with war crimes tribunals, fighting organised crime and reforming finances and civil administration.
The shift to focusing outward on the EU's near neighbours comes after intense inward-looking debate about a new draft constitution for the expanding union. The 15 member states and 10 countries which will join next year said the draft document was a "good basis" for discussion.
A massive security operation has been mounted in Porto Carras to try to avoid the violent protests seen at other recent meetings.
Šaltinis:
BBC News
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
President Dalia Grybauskaitė sent a letter to the participants of the ceremony of unveiling a commemorative plaque in Washington Square in Vilnius to mark the seventieth anniversary of the US Department of State Declaration on the Non-Recognition of the Annexation of the Baltic States.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė on behalf of herself and the people of Lithuania extended congratulations to His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, on the occasion of Independence Day.
more »
On 20 July at the international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis affirmed that Lithuania would continue fulfilling commitments and contributing to the stabilization and development of Ghor Province.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė presented letters of credence to Žygimantas Pavilionis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to the United States of America.
more »
Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis welcomed the official launch of European Union-Georgia talks on Association Agreement.
more »
Lithuania’s honorary consuls are expected to contribute consolidated efforts to achieving today’s key tasks of Lithuania’s economic diplomacy – the promotion of Lithuanian exports and attraction of foreign direct investments.
more »
Victory in the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris) stands as a symbol signifying the hope of the Lithuanian people to seek freedom and independence, President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined at the celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Grunwald Battle.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė, together with Polish President-elect Bronisław Komorowski and prominent Polish state and public figures, took part in the festive celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris).
more »
Yesterday evening, after the wreath-laying ceremony at the Grunwald Monument and the opening of a special exhibition at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, President D. Grybauskaitė of Lithuania and President-elect B. Komorowski of Poland had a working dinner together.
more »
Wednesday, 14 July, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, is to meet with her Romanian counterpart, Traian Băsescu, who is to pay an official visit to Lithuania.
more »