Western Balkans accession to the EU important for the whole of Europe - PM

Poland's Prime Minister, participating on Wednesday in a discussion panel at the Strategic Forum in Bled, Slovenia, said that the integration of the Western Balkans with the European Union is more important than the integration of Turkey.

According to Mateusz Morawiecki, the integration of the Western Balkans is of great importance for the whole of the European family.

"It cannot be closed within today's borders, which means that the Western Balkans should be incorporated into the architecture of the European Union as soon as possible," Morawiecki said and added that friends are needed on the eastern, but also on the south-western flank of the EU.

Morawiecki said that the sea border is easier to defend than the land border. "The Western Balkans are knocking on our door and we have to make a decision very quickly," Morawiecki said.

In his opinion, the events on the eastern border of Poland mean that migration and refugees will be the greatest challenge for the European Union in the coming decades.

During his visit to Slovenia, Morawiecki will also meet with the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Jansa. Topics to be discussed at the meeting will include the situation in Afghanistan and migration.