"(...) It should be stressed here that this region with its great eco-nomic potential could emerge as a new and competitive area within the larger EU able to equally participate in the European economic and also political developments. But there are some preconditions that must be fulfilled and taken seriously in order to achieve this goal: a stronger attention should be paid to regional economic and cultural cooperation without falling back into the nationalist and exclusive argumentation of the past, the EU should be proactive and give the region an open access to the EU funds for the regional development even before the countries join the EU, and last but not least young and modern leaders across the region (...) should be accepted as real partners able and willing to work for a new and better common future within the wider Europe."