The European Commission adopted its annual enlargement strategy and progress reports on each candidate and potential candidate country on 14 October 2009. This ‘enlargement package’ sets out the general policy on EU enlargement as well as giving details on progress made by candidate countries Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
The EC has recommended to member states that accession negotiations be opened with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which has undertaken political reforms that meet the Copenhagen political criteria. This will now put extra pressure on both parties to end the name dispute with Greece.
In the conclusions and recommendations given at the end of the strategy document, the EC emphasises the encouragement the enlargement process gives to political and economic reform in the countries concerned. The EC also points to the effects of the financial crisis that have been felt in the region and the major challenge posed by the fight against corruption and organised crime. Particular recommendations are provided for each country, with Cyprus and Iceland also included.
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network has analysed 2006 and 2007 progress reports in terms of the two benchmarks introduced by the EC in 2007 – civil society development and dialogue. This document will be updated with 2009 data and published in the near future on the network’s website http://www.balkancsd.net/
The enlargement package and additional information can be downloaded from DG Enlargement’s website: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/key-documents/reports_oct_2009_en.htm
Information provided by Rebecca Steel-Jasińska, TRIALOG
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