Opening Session - Eamon Gilmore T.D. -10 Years After Thessaloniki
Channel: IIEA
Date: 31/05/2013

10 Years After Thessaloniki: An appraisal of the EU perspective and challenges in the Western Balkans
Farmleigh House, Friday, 24 May 2013
The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the IIEA hosted a high-level conference on Friday, 24 May 2013 to mark the tenth anniversary of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki. At this summit in 2003 a firm commitment was made to the countries of the region that 'the future of the Balkans is within the European Union'. The Thessaloniki Agenda continues to shape the EU's relations with the region, although the euro crisis and the consequent focus on institutional change within the Union pose significant challenges for the future of enlargement to the Western Balkans. This conference reflected on the progress made over the last ten years, the difficulties encountered and the outlook for the completion of the project.