Diplomacy - Baerbock in Slovenia: climate crisis and EU enlargement topics
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Slovenia to find out more about the country's civil protection after the flood disaster in the summer. Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, she and her Slovenian colleague Tanja Fajon visited the national logistics center for civil protection and disaster control.
At the beginning of August, two thirds of the country was affected by flooding rivers. There were also landslides. The damage was estimated at half a billion euros at the time. Slovenia is receiving aid from EU funds.
The Federal Foreign Minister had already stated on her departure to Slovenia that the "fight against the climate crisis, the greatest security threat to humanity" was the linchpin in the implementation of the German-Slovenian action plan.
Afterwards, separate talks between Baerbock and Fajon and with Prime Minister Robert Golob are planned in the capital Ljubljana. The discussion on the admission of the Western Balkan countries to the EU is likely to be at the center of attention.
The Western Balkan countries include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. All six countries are striving to join the EU, but are at different stages in the process.
Baerbock: EU accession in their own interest
According to Baerbock, the admission of the countries to the EU is an important contribution to Europe's security in view of the Russian war in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years. "The countries of the Western Balkans fully belong in our European Union. This is not just an empty phrase, but in our own security interests," explained the Green politician. She added: "In the face of Russia's imperialism in the middle of Europe, the EU cannot afford any gray areas."
In a world in which crises and conflicts are overlapping in Europe's immediate neighborhood, an EU is needed "that also acts quickly and decisively tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and remains a security anchor for all of us in Europe," Baerbock demanded. This requires reforms in the countries that want to become part of the European family. "At the same time, the EU must keep its word and take the next steps in the enlargement process once the conditions have been met," added the Federal Foreign Minister.
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Source: www.stern.de
