Bregu: What would we expect from a more geopolitical EU? Simple: Clear and bold decisions to acknowledge the good of having WB in EU as well as the damage associated with long prolong EU membership  

Regional Cooperation Council takes part at 2020 GLOBSEC’s “Let’s Heal the World Together” Online Forum

Bratislava/Tirana/Sarajevo – “What would we expect from a more geopolitical EU? Simple: Clear and bold decisions to acknowledge the good of having Western Balkans in the EU as well as the damage associated with long prolong EU membership. Western Balkans citizens would expect more resilient and righteous decisions from EU Member States. Their domestic political landscape and worries often impede the right decisions related to the Western Balkans. WB citizens are overwhelmingly pro-Europeans. This is the main narrative. External actors have never been capable of undermining this,” said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), speaking at the panel “A More Geopolitical EU Amid Growing Instability in the Neighbourhood” at the digital stage of the 15th edition of Bratislava GLOBSEC Forum “Let’s Heal the World Together” today.

“EU has all the leverage in the region to push the breakdown of barriers that can help WB to move on. It is the main trading partner and investor, does not threat any country security, it promotes right values. Regional Cooperation today is a reality, thanks to the EU’s role and regional political consciousness.  I hope that the region can have the access to EU value/supply chains. This has to happen and we are working on that. It will help boost economic growth, transfer of know-how and create jobs.  All this would eliminate threats to the problematic issue of economy in the region, the people leaving the Balkans massively and improve region’s stability as well,” added Bregu.

The RCC Secretary General Bregu took part in the panel focused on European sovereignty and geopolitical ambition and the role of Western Balkans in the “Stronger Europe”, which was moderated by Tim Judah, The Economist’s journalist. Other panellists were: Katarína Mathernová, European Commission’s Deputy Director-General, DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Roland Freudenstein, Policy Director, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, and Jakub Wiśniewski, GLOBSEC’s Vice President for Strategy. 

The 2020 edition of GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum moved online due to the coronavirus outbreak, embracing a digital space and launching new initiative #GLOBSECgoesDIGITAL. The Forum looked beyond the current state of international affairs and challenges. Its 15th edition has been searching for a common vision within 5 key areas shaping our future: Defence & Security, Digital Future, Sustainability, Future of Europe and Economy & Global Order.

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GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum has established itself as the leading platform in the Central East European (CEE) region and one of the top strategic conferences globally. Hundreds of the most influential state officials, business leaders, experts from leading global think-tanks and NGOs, heads of international organizations, thinkers and innovators gather each year at GLOBSEC Forum to seek solutions to the most pressing issues of today and of tomorrow.

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