EC adopts enlargement perspective for Western Balkans countries

The European Commission adopted a strategy for “A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans” on February 6, RTS reports.

The strategy was presented at a press conference by Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and High Representative of the EU Federica Mogherini.

As Beta reports, the strategy says that the EU might have more than the current 27 members by 2025, but that the progress along the European path is an objective and merit-based process which depends on the concrete results achieved by each individual country, the EU announced.

The Strategy explains the steps that need to be taken by Montenegro and Serbia to complete the accession process in a 2025 perspective.

– While others could catch up, Montenegro and Serbia are the only two countries with which accession talks are already under way – it is said and added that this perspective will ultimately depend on strong political will, the delivery of real and sustained reforms, and definitive solutions to disputes with neighbors.

Mogherini emphasized that 2025 is not a target year, but a realistic perspective for the countries which had already started negotiating, whereas Hahn pointed out that 2025 was a realistic, albeit ambitious goal and that the EC would focus on providing help to the countries of the Western Balkans, RTS reports.

Members of the European Parliament are to state their positions on the strategy, after which the final version of the document should be sent to member-states for further deliberation.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, previously said that 2025 was not the year when Serbia and Montenegro would absolutely need to be in the EU. He said that it was a framework date and an encouragement for the countries that had made the biggest progress on their European path.

Juncker once again pointed out that there would be no further enlargement in the Western Balkans until the open questions of borders were resolved.

Following the adoption of the strategy, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked the member-states which had, as she said, wholeheartedly supported Serbia on its European path.

– We have only now been given a timeframe and believe we should be happy and proud, as the EU hereby acknowledges the progress Serbia and its citizens have made on their progress on the European path. However, what I want to point out is that this is merely a chance for us, and not a guarantee that we will become a member-state in 2025 – Brnabic said.

She pointed out that the strategy suggests a larger presence of the EU and lists six initiatives for strengthening the cooperation in key areas: rule of law, security and migration, socio-economic development, transport and energy connectivity, digital agenda, reconciliation and good neighborly relations.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bruxelles

European Commission

EK

A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans

Johannes Hahn

Federica Mogherini

European Parliament

Government of Serbia

Jean Claude Juncker

accession of Serbia to the EU

membership of Serbia in the EU

Ana Brnabic