Most Balkan states unlikely to join EU before 2012

[masolord]

Most Balkan states unlikely to join EU before 2012 - International Herald Tribune

BRUSSELS, Belgium — No western Balkan nation will be able to join the European Union before 2012, except Croatia, which may qualify as early as 2010, European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Tuesday.

Signaling the European Commission's optimism regarding reforms in Serbia, Rehn said he will initial a pre-membership accord with the Belgrade government. The decision was made after a positive assessment of Serbia's cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal.

"This marks a real turning point for Serbia," Rehn said, noting that all other candidate nations already have such accords. "A new European dawn is in the making in Serbia."

The European Commission issued its annual enlargement report assessing progress in economic and other reforms made EU candidates Croatia and Macedonia and four other West Balkan nations — Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia — that hope to be declared formal candidates in the years ahead.

The report concluded that there has been "steady, though uneven progress (toward membership) in the Western Balkans and the region continues to face major challenges."


In 2004, in its single largest expansion ever, the EU grew to 25 members absorbing Malta, Cyprus and eight East European nations. Romania and Bulgaria joined this year. The EU is determined to bring in the Western Balkans, arguing that will serve Europe's strategic interests of enhancing peace, security, liberty, democracy and conflict prevention.

Except for Albania and Macedonia, all other nations of the western Balkans were embroiled in a series of bitter wars following the collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991. About 140,000 people perished in those conflicts.

Slovenia was the first former Yugoslav state to join the EU in 2004, and Croatia will probably achieve membership in three to five years, the report said.

"Accession negotiations with Croatia are ... entering a decisive phase," the report said. But it added, "the country (must) maintain the necessary reform momentum" notably in justice matters, the fight against corruption and enabling Serb refugees who fled after the 1991-95 civil war to return home.

None of the other Balkan candidates can realistically count on becoming members before 2012, the report said.

_ Albania performed well economically and plays a positive role in maintaining regional stability, the report said. Corruption and organized crime remain the country's foremost problems.

_ Bosnia's ethnic tensions continue to hinder the work of its government institutions, it said. A complicated administrative structure and nationalist rhetoric have jeopardized the government's reform agenda.

_ Macedonia made progress in creating a market economy, but a lack of dialogue between political parties was paralyzing the democratic system, the EU said.

_ Montenegro has made progress since gaining independence in 2006 by adopting a new constitution. But country still lacks "administrative capacities" and is lagging in the battle against corruption, the report said.

_ Serbia's economy has grown significantly in the past year, and government reforms have contributed to creating a functioning market economy, the report said. But it criticized Belgrade for maintaining excessive bureaucratic barriers to foreign investment.

[masolord]

we are so f***ed
by the time we enter in EUwe will be finished by the Albanians.

[PAO123]

Originally Posted by masolord

we are so f***ed
by the time we enter in EUwe will be finished by the Albanians.

You Skopians can't even defeat a bunch of Albanians yet you dare call yourselves descendants of Alexander the Great

[masolord]

Originally Posted by PAO123

You Skopians can't even defeat a bunch of Albanians yet you dare call yourselves descendants of Alexander the Great

we can defend them but the EU wont allows us to do it, that why they are acting tough now.

[PAO123]

edit: please delete

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by masolord

we can defend them but the EU wont allows us to do it, that why they are acting tough now.

you want to defend us!thanks!

[preston]

what a shame for the descendents of Alexander...even Croatio that suffered a whole war and started poorer then you is ready to join...and you?
Eat fake history rather then Makers!

[slavicwolf]

we can make our way to tirana in 3 days if the EU and USA let us, make no doubt about that. we are still majority in the balkans remember that.

[Tsontos]

Originally Posted by slavicwolf

we can make our way to tirana in 3 days if the EU and USA let us, make no doubt about that. we are still majority in the balkans remember that.

Who? Slavs? Actually the non-Slavs outnumber Slavs.

Non-Slavs:

Rom - 22
Gre - 11
Hun - 10
Alb - 3.6

total: over 46.6 million

Slavs:

Ser - 10
Cro - 4.5
FYROM - 2
Slov - 2
Bul - 7
Mon -0.7
Bos - 4.5

total: over 31 million

[preston]

Originally Posted by slavicwolf

we can make our way to tirana in 3 days if the EU and USA let us, make no doubt about that. we are still majority in the balkans remember that.

do you realy believe yourself wolf?