Balkans: Euro-Atlantic Enlargement

Lord Collins of Highbury Excerpts

Tuesday 27th February 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

The noble Baroness in her original Answer makes a very good point. There are aspirations in the western Balkans: there are aspirations to join the EU. Joining the EU has been the bulwark for defending liberal democracy, and certainly that is the view that the Government have held in the past. Is the Minister still of that view, and how does she tally that with the Foreign Secretary’s view that somehow the EU represents a model against democracy?

[Baroness Stedman-Scott]

I thank the noble Lord for his question. The UK wants a strong, stable and prosperous neighbourhood. We remain of the view that the EU accession process is important to delivering security and prosperity in the western Balkans, and we will do all that we can to support that process.