European Newsletter 13 March 2008

Strengthening EU ties with the Western Balkans

"2008 will be a crucial year for the Western Balkans", said European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, announcing major proposals for European Union assistance for the region on March 5.

Will 2008 be "the decisive year" for Croatia?

If there is substantial progress with judicial and administrative reforms, in fighting corruption, and in restructuring the shipbuilding sector, then 2008 could be a decisive year for Croatia’s accession negotiations, European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Brussels on March 5.

Serbia "remains central" to EU policy in the Western Balkans

"Serbia is central for regional stability and good neighbourly relations in the Balkans", said European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on March 5. "I am fully aware that a broad majority of Serbian people consistently support EU membership. It should be a realistic expectation that the Serbian government listens to this silent majority".

Kosovo and stability a test of EU foreign policy, says Rehn

The EU held a troika meeting with Montenegro on February 18. Slovenian foreign Kosovo and the stability of the Western Balkans are a critical litmus test for the European Union’s foreign policy", according to European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Speaking in Brussels on February 28 at a conference on "Europe?s Role in the World ? the next 25 years", he argued that "the projection of the soft power ? or transformative power ? of the EU in our own neighbourhood should continue and be reinforced."

The former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia must address the key reform priorities with determination

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on March 5 that if the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia showed determination in addressing the key reform priorities, it could "demonstrate its readiness to undertake accession negotiations". The Commissioner promised that this will be assessed in the progress report this autumn.

Visa dialogue launched with Albania

European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, launched a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Albania in Tirana on March 7.

Montenegro joins EU competitiveness programme

Montenegro has become the fourth of the group of candidate and potential candidate countries to join the EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen, who is responsible for enterprise and industry policy, and Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister for Economic Development of the Republic of Montenegro, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 3 formalising the agreement.

Bosnia and Herzegovina at centre of Brussels meetings

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn invited the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Brussels on 27-28 February for a meeting to discuss the country’s European integration. He said: "I am fully committed to the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people.

Bringing more openness and democracy to Turkey

Democratisation, fundamental freedoms and constitutional reform in Turkey are subjects "of paramount importance both for Turkish citizens and for the country?s EU accession process", European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told a European Parliament conference on March 3.

Enlargement website of the European Commission