”Enlargement has proved again and again that it is beneficial both for the accession countries as well as the EU. The goal must be to have mutually cooperating countries of the Western Balkans inside the EU” said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, at the European Policy Summit ”Beating the Balkan Blues” on December 9th 2010.
Further, Hökmark emphasized that ”today, more than ever, the development of the Western Balkans is an integral part of the future development of the European Union”.
Hökmark concluded by highlighting the pivotal role of Croatia as a role model for the entire Western Balkan region.