EPP Group in european Parliament Fully Support Western Balkans EU Accession

he future of the countries of the Western Balkans towards EU accession was the main focus of the 4th EPP Group Conference on the Western Balkans. The conference emphasised the progress and challenges of the accession procedure. The possibility of EU membership adds strong impetus to reform processes in the countries of the region aimed at further democratisation and improvement of the quality of life.   Opening the conference, Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, underlined that the key to success in the Balkans is real political and economic stability and good relations with their neighbours. A candidate State or a State who wishes to be candidate, must take this into account. "We learn from the successes and mistakes of our neighbours. Slovenia and Croatia are good examples, even if there are ten years between their accessions. They have shown you the right path to take. Another significant example: a year ago, on 22 April, Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement aimed at normalising their relations, closing one of the most complicated chapters in the collapse of Yugoslavia and paving the way towards Europe. The European Union is not here to teach you, but to give you the means to succeed. Furthermore, the road doesn't end with accession. Once you are part of Europe's club, that's when our work together begins. I am sure that the next enlargement phase will be done well and will make Europe a strong continent for all States. And you will be part of it", he said.   Eduard Kukan MEP, Chairman of the EP Delegation for Relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, underlined the important progress in the Balkans over the last couple of months. However, as 2014 unfolds, the overall picture remains rather mixed: "2014 is also an...

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