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
Ministry of foreign affairs of Lithuania invites foreign citizens to take the quiz “Millennium of Lithuania. Culture and history”.
more »
President Adamkus underlines that today Lithuanian and Azerbaijani nations are linked by very special strategic ties that are strengthened even further by Azerbaijan‘s continuing efforts to develop relations with the European Union.
more »
Many experts believe that the offshore pipeline project poses a serious threat to the Baltic Sea environment because hazardous chemical weapons from World War II are still dumped at the bottom of the sea.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus extended, on behalf of himself and the people of Lithuania, congratulations to President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia on the occasion of Independence Day.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus sent congratulations on behalf of himself and the people of Lithuania to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler, on his victory in the presidential election.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus congratulated President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina on the occasion of national holiday - Revolution Day - and extended best wishes for the well-being and prosperity of the Argentine people.
more »
On 22 May, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is paying an official visit.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus received letters of credence from the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi.
more »
On 18-19 May, Lithuania’s Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry took part in the meeting of European Union’s Ministers for Development Cooperation. The meeting was a on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
more »
On 15 May at Klaipėda University, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas opened an international conference “Baltic Marine Innovation Forum”, and welcomed the united forces of the Government, business and science representatives as well as diplomats, who care for the future of the Baltic Sea region.
more »