Pahor: The only answer to the rise of nationalism and ideas about changing borders is the EU

(Patria) - Slovenian President Borut Pahor expressed concern over some statements heard in the Western Balkans recently and stressed that the only response can be accelerating the EU enlargement process to the region. "I am concerned about some processes in the Western Balkans, today even more so because of some statements we can hear, and I think we can only respond to them with a swift, successful enlargement of the European Union to that part of Europe," Pahor said after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

He said he has always been and remains committed to the Western Balkans' accession to the EU, that it is important for the well-being of people in that region as well as in the EU, and that recently it has become crucial for peace and security.

The Slovenian president said that recently he has been warning that the process of integrating the Western Balkans into the EU is too slow and that, as a result, political nationalisms and statements about border changes that threaten peace and security in the region are strengthening again.

"The only answer to the rise of nationalism and ideas about changing borders in the Western Balkans is the enlargement of the European Union, and the EU has a responsibility to commit to this better than it is doing now. It is a matter of peace and security; these can be irreversible processes, so we need to be careful, now, today," Pahor said, adding that this is why he is in Belgrade today.

He said that he and Vučić agree that if the EU managed to open its doors to all peoples and states in this region in a short time, there would no longer be thoughts about strengthening nationalisms or changing borders.

According to him, instead of deepening relations of trust among the Western Balkan countries, there has recently been a deepening of mistrust and serious threats to peace and security in the region, and these processes can be stopped by a faster and more successful EU enlargement to that part of Europe.

"I could not be more concerned," Pahor said, adding that in the face of these negative processes in the region, he is surprised by the EU's powerlessness to respond to the situation.