14/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – During a phone conversation with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on Wednesday 13 September, US Vice-President Mike Pence expressed "the United States’ desire to work with the EU to advance the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries in the region" of the western Balkans. In a press release, the White House stated that Pence thanked Mogherini for her leadership on the Western Balkans. Such EU-US cooperation was notably developed under the mandates of Catherine Ashton and Hillary Clinton (see EUROPE 10720). Pence also told Mogherini that Washington wanted to coordinate the next steps on North Korea with America's allies and partners, the White House press release stated. The leaders highlighted the enduring strength of the US-EU relationship, according to the US side. (CG)