Western Balkan countries for stronger ties and cooperation

BELGRADE - Countries of the Western Balkans continue to work together towards a common goal - safe environment, political stability and economic prosperity of the region, participants of the regional conference in Belgrade stressed in a joint statement.

This would ensure a better life for all our citizens, and promote our European prospects, said the foreign and finance ministers of the Western Balkan countries gathered for an informal meeting in the Serbian capital on Thursday.

The ministers discussed programs that could boost the economic growth and attract foreign direct investments to the region, improve structural reforms, regional cooperation and infrastructure projects, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release.

The conference on the topic of 'Economic management and ties' is a continuation of the talks that took place at an informal meeting in Kotor, Montenegro, in July, the consultations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, and the conference on the Western Balkans held on August 28 in Berlin, the release states.

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said at the opening that, ever since it was launched, the initiative to hold meetings in this format has proved beneficial for empowered action, dialogue and cooperation in the region.

Dacic thanked the outgoing EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele for his engagement and dedication which contributed to the success of this format of meetings, and to the strengthening of ties between countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union.

Fuele said that the European Commission is ready to support better interconnection between the Western Balkan...