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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the Western Balkans as a "European melting pot" that tests the security of the old continent, in his opening remarks at a summit with regional leaders in London.
The British Prime Minister hosted in London the leaders of the six Western Balkan countries - North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo - as the UK tries to agree further measures to reduce the number of migrants arriving illegally.
The UK is in ongoing negotiations with several of the countries to host so-called return centres, where the country could send rejected asylum seekers before they are deported.
"The region has been described as the crossroads of Europe, but too often it has also been Europe's temptation, a cauldron where the security of our continent is tested," the British prime minister said, Danas.rs reports.
Starmer also added that the talks would focus on security, migration and economic growth, and that the leaders would discuss how to counter Russia's "malign influence", as well as rooting out corruption and the shared issues of migration.
"The Western Balkans have long been a vital transit route for criminal gangs of smugglers. You do not want to see these gangs operating on your territory and we all suffer the consequences of their actions," Starmer said.
The Berlin Process is a diplomatic initiative launched in 2014 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with the aim of bringing the countries of the region closer to the European Union.
Among the participants of the London Summit were the Prime Ministers of Albania Edi Rama, the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia, Borjana Kristo, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajic, Albin Kurti of Kosovo, Hristijan Mickoski of North Macedonia, and from Serbia, Đuro Matsut.
Along with leaders from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania, the British Prime Minister also welcomed representatives from Germany, France and other EU members to the London Summit, while British King Charles III hosted a reception for the participants.
The Berlin Process summits are held once a year, and the last one was in October 2024 in Berlin.
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