Polish president calls for open-door EU policy for Western Balkans

Polish President Andrzej Duda told reporters in Tirana, Albania, on Thursday that "Europe needs South-Eastern Europe while South-Eastern Europe needs Europe," and stressed that the EU must keep its door open to Western Balkan countries. Addressing a press conference held during the South-Eastern European countries' summit in Tirana on May 8 and 9, Duda said that he was convinced that Western Balkan countries would become part of the EU "if they are granted wise support". Duda said it was always the EU's aim to make the union as big and as strong as possible. "Reaching this goal will be possible only if the EU is expanding, not shrinking," he said.