Brussels, 5 December 2023 (MIA) - Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner has said that Vienna insists on speeding up the process of Western Balkans' EU accession, in order to ensure stability of the region and its protection from foreign influence, MIA reports from Brussels.

"Speeding up the accession negotiations with countries of the Western Balkans is a clear priority for me before we discuss other possible memberships," said Minister Tanner during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She said that in a time of global turmoil, the EU "must not lose sight of its immediate neighborhood".

"The Western Balkans, and especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, is an important partner for Austria when it comes to further stability, regional cooperation and European integration of the region," added Tanner.

The statement comes ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on December 13, amid Brussels' efforts to start the accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, while recommending a conditional start of the talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which needs to meet the required alignment criteria.