Corruption and a weak rule of law are Bosnia’s biggest problems, the country’s Foreign Minister, Igor Crnadak, told participants of a summit that gathered leaders of six Western Balkans and eight EU countries in London on Monday.

Foreign ministers were listing what kind of problems their countries were facing and Crnadak told N1 that it was particularly important that this year the summit was also attended by interior ministers.

“The rule of law and fight against corruption are the main problems Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing,” he said.

“We have to continue the fight against corruption. It is also important that we have a panel addressing young people,” he said.

The summit is part of what is known as the ‘Berlin Process’, initiated a few years ago to strengthen cooperation between the countries of the region.

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said the process is important for cross-border cooperation and has already produced results.

“The Berlin process is a good opportunity for countries to prepare themselves for their EU perspective,” he said.

“Some of the region’s problems are (a lack of) political will and determination and readiness to fulfill the prescribed tasks but it is getting better,” he said, adding he was now much more optimistic.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Bedzet Pacoli said economic cooperation was the most important thing summit participants should focus on.

Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov has been particularly optimistic in London as he was planning to travel to Brussels after this summit where he expects NATO to invite his country to join the alliance.

“Europe, but also the region, are on a historical crossroad and we have to demonstrate our determination for progress,” he said, adding that the NATO invitation “will give us the chance to tell people at home that they have a perspective.”

Talks about the future should include the youth but the past, which is burdening the relations in the region, should also be addressed, specially the issue of missing persons and war crimes, said Croatia’s Foreign Minister, Marija Pejcinović-Buric.

The London summit started with a panel about the future of the youth and the main event is planned for Tuesday when the prime ministers of the participating countries will meet.