Estonian PM calls for accelerating Western Balkan countries' integration into EU amid Ukraine situation

TALLINN. June 24 (Interfax) - Western Balkan countries, such as Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania, should integrate into the European Union as soon as possible for geopolitical reasons, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

"Estonia has been supportive of the Western Balkans joining the European Union and, especially in the light of the war in Ukraine, specific messages must be given on how to proceed," the Estonian government press service quoted Kallas as saying.

Estonia supports initiatives engaging these countries, as future EU members, in the Union's policies, such as food and energy security, greening, the future of young people, and increasing cyber security, she said.

"Estonia has shown an initiative where the e-Governance Academy conducts a study on cyber security in the Western Balkans, and last week the Western Balkans Digital Security Forum took place in Tallinn," Kallas said, in commenting on a meeting in Brussels between leaders of EU and Western Balkan countries, whose participants discussed steps to advance said countries' accession to the EU.