MFA: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto to visit the Western Balkans

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will have bilateral meetings with high-level political leaders in each of the countries. The topics of discussion will include EU enlargement, Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, bilateral relations, and the regional situation and cooperation in the Western Balkans.

“Located at the heart of Europe, the Western Balkans is a region whose stability and wellbeing is in the interests of Finland, too. The EU’s enlargement is based on jointly agreed criteria. Potential candidate countries’ efforts to meet the accession criteria are supported, and it is important that the discussions continue. The necessary reforms required for fulfilling the convergence criteria will benefit the citizens of the countries even before the actual EU enlargement. Regional cooperation also plays a role in increasing stability and prosperity. Besides the governments of the countries, young people and civil society actors play key roles,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

Inquiries: Katja Kalamäki, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 518, and Markku Lampinen, Director, Unit for South-Eastern Europe, tel. + 358 295 350 164

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are of the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.