Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Integration Marija Pejčinović Burić 9 July 2018 in London attended a meeting of the Berlin Process foreign ministers. The meeting was held ahead of the meeting of prime ministers.
In attendance were the foreign ministers of six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) as well as representatives of the EU member states (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia). Guests included the Bulgarian foreign minister as well as representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The ministers discussed strengthening of neighbourly relations and regional cooperation, resolving the legacy of the past, regional security and migration.
They underscored support for the European perspective of Southeast European countries. We wish that region become stable, secure and prosperous, firmly rooted in European values. The ministers also welcomed the progress made in settling the outstanding issues since the previous summit in Trieste.
In accordance with the European Commission Strategy of February and Sofia Declaration of May, the strengthening of neighbourly relations, regional stability and cooperation, including resolving the legacy of war, is of the highest importance.
Special attention was paid to the issue of migration. The current flow of migrants along the Western Balkan and Mediterranean routes poses new challenges both for the EU and our neighbours. The ministers underlined the determination to intensify cooperation in forming a common European response to the growing transnational challenge. Apart from the European context, Croatia is also offering bilateral assistance to Southeast European countries in their efforts to curb illegal migration.
The host of the next Berlin Process summit in 2019 is Poland.