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Commissioner Rehn at Conference held in Prague on the EU and the Western Balkans „The Critical Year of 2009"
22.09.2008, 19:23
"The 5th anniversary of the accession to the EU of the eight Central and Eastern European Countries, Malta and Cyprus falls under the Czech Presidency. The reunification of Europe, once artificially divided by the Iron Curtain, is indeed worth celebrating. It is a chance to remind our citizens of the raison d'être of EU enlargement: to extend the area of liberty and democracy, peace and prosperity throughout Europe" said Commissioner Olli Rehn in Prague at a conference organised by the Czech Foreign Ministry on September 18th 2008.
In his speech he reviewed the state of play in the relations of the Western Balkans and Turkey with the EU. Olli Rehn has also addressed the challenges the EU is facing in security and stability to the east. He said "the EU's role in defusing the crisis in Georgia was significant. But we need more than just crisis management. We need a sustainable medium-term strategy to ensure stability and security in the Eastern Dimension of our continent which is crucial to the EU's own well-being."
Olli Rehn concluded that "2009 is bound to be the year of the Western Balkans and of the Eastern Europe Partnership". In the Balkans, countries that recently were at war are now busy setting up regional cooperation, an energy community, a transport community and a free trade area. They are all preparing for EU membership. Yet, much remains to be done on such key issues as the fight against corruption or the reform of public administration and judiciary. It is emphasised that the Commission will present the 2008 enlargement package,including progress reports,in early November. This will provide the December European Council with proposals for managing the way ahead.
„The accession negotiations withCroatia are proceeding well. I expect most of the remaining chapters to be opened this autumn. However, the trickiest ones may be left for the Czech Presidency. It should be possible to close a large number of chapters during the spring, so as to conclude the technical negotiations before the end of next year", stated Commissior for Enlargement Olli Rehn.
Source:www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu