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February 9, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 4
and bilateral and regional cooperation.”
The European Commission said in the report that EU itself needs to be ready for new members once they have met the conditions, which is ensuring effective decision-making.
“Finally, special arrangements must be put in place to ensure that future member states are not in a position to block the accession of other West- ern Balkans candidates,” the statement said.
This has repeatedly been a problem in the past, for example with Greece’s blocking of Macedo- nia’s accession progress, and Cyprus’ blocking of Turkey’s. With many outstanding conflicts in the Western Balkans region, the prospect of early entrants blocking the progress of those that are slower to progress is a serious concern.
Brnabic sent out an encouraging message in this regard, stressing that cooperation in the region would a priority and offering support for Serbia’s old foe Albania on its EU path.
“We will support, and we have been clear in the past, Albania and Macedonia to open negotiations as soon as possible and we will be available to support everyone who needs it in the European perspective,” Brnabic said, according to a Serbian government statement.
With the aim of supporting the transformation efforts of the Western Balkans in areas of mutual interest, the European Commission announced six flagship actions that the EU will take over the next years.
These includes initiatives such as strengthening the rule of law, reinforced cooperation on security and migration through joint investigating teams, expanding the EU Energy Union to the Western Balkans and lowering roaming charges and roll- ing out broadband in the region.
The strategy spells out the priorities and areas of joint reinforced cooperation, addressing the specific challenges the Western Balkans face, in particular the need for fundamental reforms and good neighbourly relations.
“Judicial reforms, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and public administration re- form need to deliver real results and the function- ing of democratic institutions need to be seriously enhanced. Economic reforms must be pursued with vigour so that structural weaknesses, low competitiveness and high unemployment rates are addressed,” the Commission recommended.
EU leaders are expected to confirm the 2025 promise at a special EU-Western Balkans summit in May in Sofia.