(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 12 OTT - Four intergovernmental conferences involving Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine are scheduled for the coming days, according to a decision made yesterday by member states, Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, announced, noting that this is the "third time since June" that the EU has held four such conferences at the same time. "It is a clear sign that the enlargement process is moving forward," she declared, praising the achievements of the candidate countries, particularly Ukraine's "extraordinary determination" to join the EU. Kos then brought up the issues of security and strategic alignment among candidates. "We cannot afford to welcome new member states that do not improve our security," she said, adding that "only candidates who are strategically aligned with us will be able to join the Union." This alignment, she explained, goes beyond the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and includes "sanctions, energy, and infrastructure." The goal is to ensure that "new members, once they join, make us stronger, not weaker." Finally, the Commissioner reiterated her "strong support for international law," citing discussions about the International Criminal Court. "It is critical to maintain the rule of law and our values—which serve as the foundation of our work—particularly during the enlargement process," Kos stated. She emphasised that international law is "fundamental to peace and security," particularly in the Western Balkans, where "nationalist tendencies are re-emerging." (ANSA).