Poland to promote Western Balkan countries' EU membership - FM

Poland wants to play a major role in the promotion of EU membership for Western Balkan countries, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said on the sidelines of the European Economic Congress in Katowice. Referring to Thursday's EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Czaputowicz stressed that the Polish government will voice its support for EU enlargement and the integration of Balkan countries. The minister recalled his participation in the May 11 Visegrad Group summit attended by representatives of the Western Balkans countries, where he expressed Poland's solidarity with those countries. "We know how important joining the EU in 2004 was for Poland. Today, we want these countries to have an adequate time perspective and the EU to demonstrate its readiness to accept new countries."