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Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the European Union

Submitted on 2013-03-19 23:00:00

Russia – EU Western Balkans (COWEB) and EU Enlargement (COELA) Expert Consultations

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On March 18-19, 2013 regular Russia-EU expert-level consultations on the Western Balkans (COWEB) and on the EU enlargement (COELA) were held in Brussels within the framework of the Russia – EU Political Dialogue.

Mr. Andrey M. MASSLOV, Director of the 4th European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, led the Russian delegation. The EU Side was headed by Mr. Fernando GENTILINI, Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey, European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr. Jonas JONSSON, Head of Division, Western Balkans, EEAS, and Mr. Adrian McDAID, Chair COELA Capitals, Director for Enlargement, Eastern Europe, Western Balkans, Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

The meetings provided an opportunity for an open and in-depth discussion on recent developments in the Balkans focusing, inter alia, on the situation in and around Kosovo and Bosnia, with special attention to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. A detailed exchange of views also took place in the context of the European perspective for the Western Balkans, Iceland and Turkey.