20 years after Slovenia joined the EU, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gathered political and civil society leaders in Ljubljana to mark this symbolic anniversary, underlining the fundamental benefits of EU membership and reaffirming that the future of the Western Balkan region lies in the European Union. 

The conference "Continuing the success story of EU enlargement - Bringing benefits to the Western Balkans in advance of accession", organised by the EESC in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Open Society Foundation-Western Balkans, put the spotlight on the necessary reforms to progress on the accession path, including the importance of upholding the EU's fundamental values. 

Speaking at the conference, President Oliver Röpke was joined by Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Luka Mesec, and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu. 

As the EESC president Oliver Röpke highlighted: "The place of the Western Balkans is in the EU; until then, our EU family is not complete. You can count on the EESC to continue to do its part by organising a ‘Civil Society Enlargement Summit’ in September." 

Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: "I believe that in the current geopolitical situation we need each other more than ever before. For this process, we need civil society to put pressure on politics and the government to move in the direction of getting closer to the EU." 

Luka Mesec, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said: "Slovenia and the Western Balkan countries have a long common history. Our common home is the European Union, so I will work together with the Slovenian government to facilitate the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the European Union". (mt)