Skopje, 14 May 2022 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj addressing the Strategic Economic Talks event, organized by the non-governmental business association SEEBDN - Southeast Europe Business Development Network, said that the European Union must not forget the Western Balkans over the Ukraine crisis on the contrary, it must remain focused on the region. North Macedonia, as well as Albania, should start EU accession talks, but it is also important that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have a European perspective, Marichikj said, adding that the European Union is a project of free trade, free movement of people, economic progress, the Union and 80 years later is the best post-war answer, and that is why we should and want to become a member of the EU. Deputy PM Marichikj alongside former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, former EU's Special Envoy for Kosovo and former High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Wolfgang Petritsch and Member of the Austrian Parliament Martin Engelberg, participated at the panel discussion “The EU accession process and integration of the Western Balkans in times of significant changes in Europe,” whereat he called on EU countries to pay greater attention on the Western Balkans, which with concrete steps would yield positive results, otherwise calls into question the credibility of the EU in the countries of the region and citizens’ trust in the Union. The public support for the European Union has decreased in the region, so at this moment it is most necessary to demonstrate leadership to protect its image, because those who oppose are trying to portray the Union as unsuccessful, Marichikj said. Deputy PM Marichikj at the panel also referred to the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, saying that it is complementary to the EU accession process and that the Berlin Process is not a substitute for joining the Union. We should not waste time while we are in the EU’s waiting room, but we should make changes in the Western Balkans, give a new face to the region, which has always been associated with conflict and crime, and show that we can cooperate in all fields.