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During a conference on 8 December in Brussels, Lithuania‘s  Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas discussed the European Union membership perspectives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia with prime ministers of Western Balkan countries and EU politicians.

Minister V.Ušackas noted that this year Western Balkan countries received a lot of good news: Croatia and Albania became NATO members in April, a Membership Action Plan for Montenegro was endorsed, the citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia will be allowed to travel to the EU without visas as of 19 December.

According to the Minister, successful year 2009 has to consolidate Western Balkan countries for new actions and reforms.

At the conference „A New Era in the Balkans“, Minister V.Ušackas noted that Lithuania supported the European Commission‘s proposal to start EU membership negotiations with Macedonia and expressed trust that the decision on this would be made during the Spanish EU Presidency. Lithuania also hopes that in 2010 the European Commission will give a positive assessment of the EU membership applications by Albania and Montenegro.

“I expect that significant progress towards free and united Europe will be made during Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe in 2011 and during Lithuania‘s trio EU Presidency with Ireland and Greece in 2013-2014“, Minister V.Ušackas stressed.

According to the Minister, the Treaty of Lisbon gives a positive impetus to further European integration.

“When the Treaty of Lisbon came into force, it opened up prospects for further EU enlargement but the EU membership of Western Balkan countries will eventually depend on the success of their reforms and their capability to communicate among each other. I expect that reforms rather than polemics on history will be in the centre of attention of the candidates as they get ready for the EU membership“, the Minister said.

Minister V.Ušackas invited the Balkan countries to foster cooperation and strengthen confidence in the region.

“The European integration experience of the Baltic States shows that the spirit of cooperation and confidence are strong prerequisites for the EU and NATO membership”, head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said.