EU concerned about the situation in the Western Balkans and the strengthening of Putin's influence

The European Union must remain present in the Western Balkans, offer the region a clear European perspective, and support pro-European forces, or the current tension could be just the beginning, warned participants in a discussion on the situation in the region at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, reports Patria.

In the discussion "Western Balkans: The stability of the region and its future must prevail over past quarrels", MEPs welcomed the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue today as a good sign.

The discussion was convened on behalf of the liberal group by a Slovenian MEP and rapporteur for Macedonia, following an incident with a train that caused a "worrying increase in tensions" between Belgrade and Pristina.

Most participants in the discussion expressed concern about the situation in the region, emphasizing that the Western Balkans must remain one of the EU's priorities. MEPs called on politicians, as well as the media, to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech, and incitement to conflict, and many in the discussion also pointed to the strengthening of Russia's influence in parts of the region.

"The things that are happening should concern the EU, which must address them in a timely manner, because events in the past 25 years have shown that even small sparks can cause major conflicts," it was warned during the discussion in the EP.