Rehn: EU cannot go wobbly on Western Balkans

If the EU’s strategy of committing the Western Balkans to human reconciliation and democracy is to succeed, the EU must not waver on its promises made on enlargement, warns Commissioner Olli Rehn.

Like any other accession to the EU, the Western Balkans accession to the EU will be made dependent on clearly-defined conditions they will have to meet prior to every step that brings them closer to the EU, writes Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in a comment published in the Financial Times newspaper on 2 April 2006.

Without overtly speaking out against anyone, Mr. Rehn’s comment is his first take on the likes of Bavarian Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber, who have just recently stepped up their argument  on the limited ‘absorption capacity’ of the EU. 

Mr. Rehn reminded them that “Countries have to be sure that they have a realistic chance of joining the EU – even if it is many years away – if reformist leaders are to convince their public that it is worth making enormous efforts to meet the EU’s conditions. The countries cannot stay the course if the EU wavers on its commitments.”

Arguing that  the region now has a real chance to move beyond the legacy of war, he stressed that; “This year is the worst possible time for the EU to go wobbly on its commitment to future enlargement – as some politicians and commentators have recently suggested.”

In a speech in the Parliament 3 April on the candidature of Bulgaria and Romania, Rehn said the two countries can still reach the target of entry in 2007-2008, but more effort is needed on “judiciary reform and fight against corruption and crime”.

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