Jandrokovic was heading the Croatian delegation at the conference that brought together representatives of 48 countries and international institutions.

"Despite the problems within the EU, despite the different views of the pace of the enlargement process, a message of encouragement was sent to the countries in the region," Jandrokovic said at a press conference, stressing that it was important that representatives of Serbia and Kosovo were at the same table.

He said that the EU representatives made it clear that the Western Balkan countries would be admitted to the EU once they had fulfilled the set requirements and criteria.

"The importance of European integration for the stability of this part of Europe was clearly emphasised," Jandrokovic said, adding that it was important to Croatia, as a country in the final stage of accession negotiations, that the future of its neighbours also lay in the EU.

"We believe that the stability of this region is directly related to the prospect of Euro-Atlantic integration of all these countries and that's why we will give our support and strong contribution to EU and NATO enlargement," Jandrokovic said.

He said that Croatia supported liberalisation of the EU visa regime for citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, and hoped that the same would follow soon for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.

A statement issued by EU president Spain and adopted at the conference said that the Western Balkan countries were making progress in the accession process, but should make more effort to meet the membership criteria. It cited judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime as key challenges in the process, and welcomed the efforts at reconciliation.

The European Union is looking forward to the progress of the Western Balkans towards the next phase of the accession process based on the established criteria and agreed conditions. EU membership of the entire Western Balkans remains our shared goal, the statement said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos described the meeting as historic, saying that it marked renewed efforts and responsibility for the situation in southeastern Europe. He said that from now on the EU would do more to ensure a European future for this part of the continent, while at the same time the countries in the region would continue the reform process, adding that the accession process would be followed by the United States, Russia, and Turkey.

I think we have achieved a positive result overall, Moratinos said, and added that the lifting of the visa requirements for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania would be one of the first steps on that road.

EU Enlargement Commission Stefan Fuele said that the conference showed that "there is not that much ground for enlargement fatigue among the member states."

The meeting has contributed to the reaffirmation of the EU membership prospects for the Western Balkans region, which is "the top priority for the external policy of the European Union," Fuele said.

The meeting was also welcomed by the Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic.

The RCC resolutely supports political meetings, statements and decisions that usher in a new era in relations in southeastern Europe based on trust, dialogue and tolerance, Biscevic said.

The meeting focused on the EU membership prospects of the Western Balkan countries, regional cooperation, the implementation of the necessary reforms, and the impact of the global economic crisis on the region.