The October 8 meeting, part of what is known as the Berlin Process, will bring together countries in the region, the EU and Denmark as the current EU president, to discuss stability, cooperation and the fight against organized crime.
The historic Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland will be the scene of a high-level meeting of foreign ministers on the Western Balkans on October 8, hosted by the United Kingdom as part of the Berlin Process 2025.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will welcome over 15 European counterparts, including representatives from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, as well as EU member states including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The European Union and Denmark, in their role as the current EU Presidency, will also participate in the meeting.
Discussions will focus on strengthening regional peace, stability and cooperation, as well as the fight against organized crime and illegal migration.
"Hillsborough Castle carries poignant reminders of the power of diplomacy to transform conflict and division into lasting peace and cooperation," said Lammy, emphasizing that the experience of Northern Ireland and the peace process there could serve as a model for countries in the Balkan region.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said that the Good Friday Agreement had provided "a powerful example of reconciliation for the world" and that this legacy would be valuable for the Western Balkans partners.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened ethnic and political tensions in the region, as London is expanding cooperation with Western Balkan countries and the EU on security, economic and border management issues. /BIRN/
