Disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, leaders of the Western Balkan countries said in the conclusions from their annual meeting of the Brdo-Brioni Process in the Macedonian capital Skoplje.

The leaders said they encourage the resolving of open questions and dispute in the spirit of good neighbour relations and international law through peaceful means.  

The Western Balkans leaders said that it’s up to the EU candidate countries and potential candidates to implement required reforms.

The meeting participants said that they would continue reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, fundamental human rights, an efficient judiciary and good governance and the fight against corruption and organized crime because they are crucial to progress, development and stability  

The annual meeting of the Brdo-Brioni Process was attended by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Union chair Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov attending as guests.  

Speaking at a lunch before the meeting, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said the region will see progress only if it works together. “The more we speak with one voice and help each other in the region, the faster we will go forward. The only political competition we need in the Balkans is a competition in reforms,” he said.  

The participants discussed the “new momentum” in the region and expectations of the coming EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia in May and the London summit in July, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.  

The Brdo-Brioni Process was launched in 2013 by Slovenia and Croatia to fully integrate the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU, stabilize the region through cooperation and the resolving of open questions.