Geopolitical changes have accelerated the EU enlargement process, but the community expands when it is prompted, Serbia's minister for European integration, Tanja Miscevic, said. She pointed out that for nearly three years there has been no opportunity to open the cluster for negotiations between Belgrade and Brussels. "There could be no acceleration since there was insistence on resolving bilateral relations." After Bulgaria joins Schengen, we will be surrounded by Schengen countries, but without being in Schengen, Miščević stressed.

After 12 years of negotiations with the EU, we have learnt from our mistakes, Montenegro's Minister for European Affairs Majda Gorçeviq said.

The EU is not just an alternative for the Western Balkans, but a necessity. There is no going back, said Artemis Malo, Albania's deputy minister for Europe and foreign affairs.

Turkey has an important role to play in European security. This was said by Mehmet Bozay, Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister, who participated in the "EU meets the Balkans". We should not tire people with talk about enlargement. It should be felt by the people that they are part of the EU. And the same should apply to member states, Bozay said.