EU releases new Western Balkan countries' membership strategy on February 6th

Next week, the European Commission will publish the new strategy for membership of Western Balkan countries. spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic says the strategy precedes publishing annual progress reports on these countries in April.

The European Commission confirms that the new strategy for membership of the Western Balkan region in the European Union will be approved by the European Commission's college on 6 February in Strasbourg. The European Commission's spokeswoman, Maja Kocijancic, has announced to ABC News that this strategy concerns not only Serbia and Montenegro as the most advanced in the European race, but with all countries in the region aspiring to European integration. Kocijancic has also clarified that the strategy will be presented by the European Union's top foreign policy and security representative, Federica Moghrini, and by Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy Johannes Hahn.

Maja Kocijancic, EC spokeswoman: On 6 February, the European Commission will approve the new strategy for the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. EU High Representative Federica Moghrini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn will present a document that has received the support of European Commission President Juncker during his speech on the European Union's situation in September last year. The document concerns the entire Western Balkan region.

The European Commission has acknowledged that during the past few days, leaders of the Balkan region have conveyed their conduct regarding this strategy in the exchange they have had with the European Commission. But the question, whether, at the Bay of this strategy, there is religious favour on the basis of Orthodox countries that are more advanced and a default on the most backward Muslim countries in the race, recorded by President Hashim Thaci in an article in the European daily «Euractiv» has not found an answer.

Maja Kocijancic, EC spokeswoman: “can't confirm the different lines and responses and exchanges he has had regarding this strategy. I want to stress again, that it is about an important document that will become public next week and that it is the first important step for the agenda of the Western Balkans this year, which is a priority for the Bulgarian presidency and the European Commission. This step will be followed by the publication of annual progress reports in April and the summit for the Balkans in Sofia in May”.

The European Commission's new strategy relies on a guide to promote mainly the most advanced in the race -- which is Serbia and Montenegro -- to succeed in ending membership negotiations in 2023 -- so that they can membership in 2025, but other countries like Albania can progress quickly in the negotiations process. Albania is expected to receive a positive recommendation from the European Commission for the opening of membership negotiations this year, if there will be further concrete results in 5 priorities.