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 Valdas Adamkus, currently on a working visit to the United Nations, met with President Bamir Topi of Albania to discuss bilateral relations, the problems raised at the high-level debate of the UN General Assembly
more »
Valdas Adamkus met with President Bamir Topi of Albania to discuss bilateral relations, the problems raised at the high-level debate of the UN General Assembly.
more »
Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with Gen. Julio Rodriguez, Chief of Defence Staff of Spain, who came on his first visit to Lithuania on September 24. High officials addressed the points of bilateral cooperation as the countries run provincial reconstruction teams in Ghowr and Badghis - neighbouring provinces of Afghanistan.
more »
Tuesday, September 23, New York – President Valdas Adamkus delivered a speech at the 63rd Session of the United Nations general Assembly.
more »
Monday, September 25, Vilnius – President Valdas Adamkus extended condolences to the leaders of Pakistan and China.
more »
Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas will meet with the Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and the Minister of Security Force Fehmi Mujota in Kosovo, September 21–22.
more »
In commemoration of the Day of Genocide of Lithuanian Jews, President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus awarded Life Saving Cross to 55 persons who were saving Jewish people from Nazi genocide during World War II.
more »
On the last leg of the working visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas had a meeting with President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus sent congratulations on behalf of himself and the people of Lithuania to President Michelle Bachelet of Chile and all Chilean people on the Independence Day.
more »
Gediminas Kirkilas said that NATO’s role in the Baltic region should not diminish in future.
more »