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 of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus received Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
more »
Lithuanian Ambassador Mečys Laurinkus presented credentials to President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.
more »
On 21 October, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas received Rabbi Andrew Baker, a representative of the American Jewish Committee, who is visiting Vilnius.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus received participants of the conference “Historic Significance of the Reciprocal Guarantee of Lithuania and Poland and the Present Day”.
more »
The President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus received the Ambassador of Portugal Antonio Manuel Moreira Tanger Correa, finishing the second term of office as the Ambassador.
more »
At the United Nations in New York, Lithuania raised the issue of dumped chemical weapons at seas. It is the first initiative of this kind on the UN agenda.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus wished President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, re-elected for the second term of presidency, to continue the important and responsible duties of his office.
more »
During the “Common World: Progress through Diversity” Forum in Astana, Lithuania‘s Foreign Minister and representatives from more than 60 states discussed the issues of strengthening tolerance and dialogue between the Western and Muslim worlds, as well as possibilities to promote security and stability.
more »
President of the United States George W.Bush received Lithuania‘s Ambassador to the USA at the White House in Washington and informed about the decision to remove the visa requirements for Lithuania’s citizens travelling to the United States as of November this year.
more »
On 16 October, Lithuanian ambassador Arūnas Vinčiūnas presented credentials to the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov.
more »