The 10th Global Baku Forum on “The World of Today: Challenges and Hopes” featured the eighth panel session on the theme "Western Balkans in the EU context".

The session was moderated by former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija.

Noting the role of the Western Balkan region in the context of the European Union (EU) Zlatko Lagumdzija emphasized the importance of further strengthening the relations between the parties, as well as the significance of integration. He said that the Western Europe supports the Balkan region, expressing hope that the Balkan countries will soon be integrated into the EU.

Former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic underlined that the future of the Western Balkan region, the EU and NATO lies in addressing issues arising in bilateral relations, adding that the Western Balkan region is part of the EU.

Emphasizing that he is very happy to be in Baku and attend the Global Baku Forum, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Jan Fischer said that the discussions at the forum revolves around major issues of global concern.

Former Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov pointed out that Western Balkan countries view membership in the European Union (EU) as a path leading to progress and avoiding wars.

Highlighting the importance of the Global Baku Forum, Former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu described the event as one of the important platforms for discussing international issues.

Emphasizing that the discussions held at the Global Baku Forum will be very useful in producing tangible solutions to the problems, former Minister of Defense of Montenegro Milica Pejanovic-Durisic said that her country was able to get rid of the conflicts that emerged on its borders in the 1990s. Milica Pejanovic-Durisic said that the EU provided support to Montenegro's healthcare system and economy during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that joining the EU is a two-way process.

The panel session continued with discussions.