Greece urges speedier EU accession for western Balkans

[Phila]

Document Actions Greece urges speedier EU accession for western Balkans
20 November 2007, 16:18 CET
(ATHENS) - Greece on Tuesday said the EU should speed up accession negotiations with western Balkan countries and boost their aid funding during what is a critical time for the region.

"The European Union must send a clear message to these countries that it has not forgotten about them," Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos told reporters.

"This is a critical moment for the Balkans," he said.

Greece wants the EU to "immediately" sign stabilisation and association agreements with Serbia and Bosnia, to encourage them along with Albania and Montenegro to apply for EU membership, to set a process for simpler visa procedures and to consider boosting the level of aid to the region.

"We do not want the the area to fall back into Balkan blues," Koumoutsakos said, adding that the proposal is not a "blank cheque" to Balkan states whose accession progress would still be under strict EU scrutiny.

He also denied that the initiative was specifically linked to the outcome of elections in Kosovo, though noted that developments in the area were "fluid".

The victory in Kosovo of ethnic Albanian former guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci has raised concern in many European capitals for a unilateral declaration of independence that would cause a crisis with Serbia.

Greece tabled the proposals to the EU's general affairs and external relations council in Brussels on Monday, and hopes the EU could award candidate status to the above countries by December 2008.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and the Portuguese government that currently holds the rotating EU presidency have welcomed the initiative, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman said.

Text and Picture Copyright 2007 AFP. All other Copyright 2007 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.

Topics: Eastern and Central Europe |

[Phila]

[quote=Phila;43608]Document Actions Greece urges speedier EU accession for western Balkans
20 November 2007, 16:18 CET
(ATHENS) - Greece on Tuesday said the EU should speed up accession negotiations with western Balkan countries and boost their aid funding during what is a critical time for the region.

"The European Union must send a clear message to these countries that it has not forgotten about them," Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos told reporters.

"This is a critical moment for the Balkans," he said.

Greece wants the EU to "immediately" sign stabilisation and association agreements with Serbia and Bosnia, to encourage them along with Albania and Montenegro to apply for EU membership, to set a process for simpler visa procedures and to consider boosting the level of aid to the region.

"We do not want the the area to fall back into Balkan blues," Koumoutsakos said, adding that the proposal is not a "blank cheque" to Balkan states whose accession progress would still be under strict EU scrutiny.

He also denied that the initiative was specifically linked to the outcome of elections in Kosovo, though noted that developments in the area were "fluid".

The victory in Kosovo of ethnic Albanian former guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci has raised concern in many European capitals for a unilateral declaration of independence that would cause a crisis with Serbia.

Greece tabled the proposals to the EU's general affairs and external relations council in Brussels on Monday, and hopes the EU could award candidate status to the above countries by December 2008.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and the Portuguese government that currently holds the rotating EU presidency have welcomed the initiative, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman said.

Text and Picture Copyright 2007 AFP. All other Copyright 2007 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.

Topics: Eastern and Central Europe |