Disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, the leaders of the Western Balkan countries said in the conclusions of their annual meeting of the Brdo-Brijuni Process in the Macedonian capital Skopje.

The leaders said they encouraged the resolution of open questions and disputes through peaceful means, in the spirit of good neighbour relations and international law, adding it was up to the EU candidate countries and potential candidates to implement the required reforms.

They would continue the reforms aimed at the strengthening of the rule of law, fundamental human rights, an efficient judiciary and good governance, as well as the fight against corruption and organized crime, because they were crucial to progress, development and stability, they said.

The annual meeting of the Brdo-Brijuni Process was also attended by the European Council President, Donald Tusk, and the European Union chair Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

Speaking at a lunch before the meeting, the Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said the region would see progress only by working together. “The more we speak with one voice and help each other in the region, the faster we will go forward. The only political competition we need in the Balkans is a competition in reforms,” he said.  

The participants discussed the “new momentum” in the region and the expectations from the coming EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia in May and the London summit in July, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.  

The Brdo-Brijuni Process was launched in 2013 by Slovenia and Croatia to fully integrate the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU, and stabilize the region through cooperation and resolving of open questions.  

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