Member of the European Parliament Željana Zovko participated yesterday in the exchange of opinions on good financial management in the EU neighbourhood policy with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, held in the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT).
Zovko referred to the opinion of the Committee for Foreign Affairs (AFET) on the EU general budget for the year 2018, adopted at the AFET meeting held on 31 August and reminded that IPA funds purposed for implementation of key reforms in the Western Balkans countries should be increased.
Furthermore, Zovko commented that besides additional funds, it was important to increase visibility and importance of the European enlargement policy and its positive effects on stability and security.
“What we need is a more active public EU diplomacy and larger visibility in implementation of EU projects in the Western Balkans in order to enable the Western Balkans countries to fight more efficiently the various threats they are facing, such as terrorism and external influence of non-European countries.” – said Zovko.