The European Union and Western Balkans are partners in security and defence, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini said in Vienna on Thursday prior to a meeting of EU Defence Ministers.

“We traditionally perceive the Western Balkans as an area of instability where the EU has been a security provider for many years, she said adding that “we are now moving into a stage in which we are partners in our common security and defence”.

Mogherini said that she had a very useful discussion on defence and security cooperation with the Western Balkans with the ministers and the Austrian presidency which she feels is doing a remarkable job in keeping the region high on the agenda of the EU, as the Bulgarian Presidency has done. “I expect the Romanian Presidency will do the same afterwards, she said.

“We discussed with the EU Defence Ministers, with NATO and UN as our key partners in the region, how to increase our cooperation which is an integral part of our work in the Balkans,” Mogherini said.