EU to Showcase New Enlargement Strategy for Balkans

The European Commission will present its new strategy for enlargement in the Western Balkans on Tuesday in a bid to give the process a fresh push.

The EC document, entitled 'Credible Perspective of Enlargement to the Western Balkans', will be presented at a plenary session of the European parliament in Strasbourg.

It aims to bring the so-called 'Western Balkans six' - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia -closer to membership.

The strategy, which BIRN saw ahead of its publishing, says that the Western Balkan countries will join the European Union, but "not in the condition they are in today."

"In order for the countries to meet all membership conditions and strengthen their democracies, comprehensive and convincing reforms are still required in crucial areas, notably on the rule of law, competitiveness, and regional cooperation and reconciliation," it noted.

The document underlined that the rule of law "must be strengthened significantly" and that critical parts of the region's economies are uncompetitive, "with too much undue political interference and an undeveloped private sector."

It also stated that there are still important bilateral disputes between countries, and pointed out that "joining the EU is a choice".

"The European Union remains dedicated to enlargement in the Western Balkans," the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said in Tirana in November when he announced that the new strategy would be made public in February.

According to a report by the European Western Balkans website on January 22, the strategy will include general guidelines for a faster process of integration for all six countries, as...