EU Opens Door For Balkan States, But Hurdles Remain

Belgrade, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2018 ) :The European Union has offered some of the six Balkan states who hope to join the bloc the prospect of becoming new members by 2025, but warned them they still have many obstacles to overcome.

The European Commission's roadmap for the region unveiled earlier this month said the countries must root out problems with corruption and the rule of law, and, especially, settle a series of simmering territorial disputes.

"The EU door is open to further accessions when, and only when, the individual countries have met the criteria," the plan said. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker will start a tour of the region on Sunday to discuss the new strategy, which stresses "implementing fundamental reforms and good neighbourly relations".

Montenegro and Serbia are the frontrunners to join, with Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia lagging behind, but all are getting impatient after the EU put expansion on hold four years ago.

The EU has been wary of admitting new members before they settle their differences, and the border rows will be a particular point of contention in a region still bedevilled by the aftermath of the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the chance to join by 2025 was "very important as an incentive for Serbian citizens". But he warned that it would take some "difficult decisions" to solve the country's outstanding issues -- first and foremost, Serbia's dispute with Kosovo.

Serbia has refused to recognise its former breakaway province since it declared independence a decade ago.