The conference of defense ministers in the Wachau ended with a strong security pact. Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) had managed to create a clear declaration of 13 countries against the background of the war in Ukraine.
Against the background of the war in Ukraine, Tanner does not want to lose sight of the focus on the Western Balkans. Austria, which is chairing the Central European Defense Cooperation (CEDC) this year, faced particular challenges as a result of the Russian attack. Nobody “expected such a change in the security and defense landscape on European soil”.
military cooperation
The seven countries of the Central European Defense Cooperation (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland and Austria) therefore signed a treaty with the six Western Balkan countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia , which provides both support for Ukraine and military cooperation.
“The Western Balkans guarantee our security. Putin knows that Europe and the West are only strong if they work together,” said Czech Defense Deputy Daniel Blažkovec. Therefore, the countries of the Western Balkans need to become acquainted with the security architecture of the EU.
As Tanner continued at the meeting, we must continue to ensure “resilience and progress in the Western Balkan region” and stick to “our initiative for the Western Balkans”.
Migration was also discussed
Migration was also discussed at the meeting, particularly with “a look at the Western Balkans route and the countries affected by it,” Tanner said. “Austria is not the gateway for migration, but the countries around us,” the minister emphasized. In the future, there is a need for even closer cooperation and joint solutions to stop illegal migration. Blažkovec added that the region is primarily the gateway for Middle Eastern migrants to Europe.
The “Western Balkans Defense College” should, among other things, create a training base in the field of security and defense, based on “European Union principles”, according to Tanner. The aim is to bring this project, “which can only be carried out with funding from the European Peace Facility”, to EU level, the minister continued. This should further strengthen the Western Balkans and support pre-accession to the EU, she said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
