Delphi, 22 April 2026 (MIA) - Greek Foreign Minister Giorgios Gerapetritis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Zoran Dimitrovski, Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Glauk Konjufca, Serbian Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starović, Montenegrin Deputy Minister for EU Ivan Ivanišević, as well as the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Greece Dragan Vuković, adopted on Wednesday a Delphi Declaration, a continuation of the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda regarding the EU perspective of the Western Balkans, MIA reports from Athens.

The declaration was adopted during the ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum, in light of Greece's EU Presidency in the second half of 2027.

After the closed meeting, the ministers and deputy ministers took part in a panel discussion dedicated to EU's enlargement with the Western Balkans.

Participants agreed that the region has been waiting too long on the EU path, noting that the Union should keep its credibility and deliver on its promises.

"This is the longest unfulfilled promise in history, and the goal of the Delphi Declaration is to revitalize the process," said Greek FM Gerapetritis.

He referred to the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda, saying Europe has failed in giving a clear vision for the Western Balkans enlargement.

"That is why we believe this is an excellent time and place to revitalize the Thessaloniki Agenda, and the declaration's purpose is to turn the roadmap into a timeline," said Gerapetritis.

The FM said new EU members will join the Union during Greece's Presidency, noting that he intends to visit the Western Balkans capitals in the coming months, while adding, "We cannot imagine Europe without the Western Balkans, and this is an issue of credibility."

Deputy Minister Dimitrovski told the panel discussion that Greece's support is very important and welcomed Gerapetritis' claim that new members would join the EU, hoping they come from the Western Balkans.

Dimitrovski said North Macedonia has waited for a long time to launch the accession negotiations, meanwhile changing its constitution on several occasions, the country's name and its flag.

He added that considering Montenegro and Albania's progress on the EU path, "it is very important that the other four don't linger as the black hole in the heart of Europe."

On relations with Bulgaria, the Deputy PM expressed readiness for dialogue with the new government in Sofia, hoping there will be no more blockades.

Photo: MIA