Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We live in a world whose complexity and instability is increasing daily. In the years to come, we will have to get used to living in a state of permanent crisis.

It turned out that the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East make the Bermuda Triangle of Europe. The Union could resolve this problem with full integration of the Balkans and with a more courageous policy towards the Middle East and North Africa. Instead of being focused on the European Neighborhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership, the Euro-Mediterranean Union and the Barcelona Process, the Union showed indecision and allowed the neighborhood to become a zone of conflict, anarchy and backsliding.

The world and Europe are facing the threat of violent extremism and radicalization, as well as emergence of foreign terrorist fighters. The main source of terrorists is the Middle East, a region where global interests of the great powers collide. There, the situation is worrying.

The conflict in Syria began as a civil and turned into a religious regional war. Now, there is a serious threat the regional war to transcend the borders of the Middle East. Practically, the Syrian battlefield currently includes almost all the world's superpowers. Thus, almost every group is battling on two fronts.

At first glance, the situation resembles what Hobbes called the war of all against all - Bellum omnium contra omnes. There are paradoxical alliances such as the friend of my friend is my enemy.

The conflicts in the Middle East have provoked religious fanaticism and violent extremism. As a result, millions of people are fleeing the chaos of the failed states and impoverished societies in which there are no conditions for the rule of law and respect for the fundamental human rights and the right to human dignity. The refugees have become migrants, seeking peace and security in Europe.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Migrants have reminded the European Union that the Balkans is a key European corridor connecting Europe with the Middle East and North Africa. The migrant crisis that has sprout as a humanitarian and social phenomenon has now grown into a grave security challenge. The inefficient Security and Migration Policy of the Union contributes thereof.

What are the consequences of the inefficient policies?

The external borders of the European Union and NATO are not protected. The mechanisms for supervision and control of state borders failed. The bilateral relations between the states are disturbed. Solidarity is abandoned. In this muddy water, best cope the most problematic categories such as organized crime groups and their networks.
Prevention and management of illegal migration and the latent threat of transfer of foreign terrorist fighters in the migrant corridor are serious challenges to the state institutions.

Imagine, in time of migration crisis and European xenophobia, there was a recent attack in Ankara. But, where does it lead to?

Faced with serious threats of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, forms of organized crime and bureaucracy, Europe is faced with the dilemma of Hobbes: how to strike a balance between freedom and security, between human rights and security. How is Europe going to solve this squaring of the circle?

The global threat of violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters cannot be solved by bureaucratic procedures, but by managing the threat on daily basis.

Tackling this crisis is possible only by fully integrating police and intelligence services across Europe. What is needed is development of a preventive mechanism in the fight against violent extremism and radicalism, foreign terrorist fighters and risks of illegal migration. Experience has shown that intelligence and special operations are the best weapons in today's security environment.

In this regard, different cooperation and communication between the entities of the national security systems of the states is necessary. Single and coordinated response to the threats is required, as well as development of a preventive mechanism in the fight against violent extremism, radicalism and foreign terrorist fighters. The Western Balkan countries must be integrated in the architecture of the security system of the Union, with unlimited access to all databases. Each country can contribute by sharing its experience.

The time when the European safety and security were protected only on the territory of Europe is gone now. Now Europe is protected in the Middle East, Caucasus and North Africa. The only long-term guarantee of peace and security in Europe is building peace and security in crisis regions which are located in the immediate and the wider European neighborhood.

Thank you.