Croatia was the first country of the region to gain candidate status and start accession talks. But in spite of its ambitions to join the Union in 2009, its progress report finds that short-term priorities set have been only partially addressed. Judicial and administrative reforms are singled out as particularly problematic, along with widespread corruption.
Macedonia became a candidate for EU membership last December and hopes to open accession talks in 2007. But the European Commission (EC) does not believe it is ready, concluding in its report that the “pace of reforms has slowed down in 2006, and the country needs to step up its efforts”.
Serbia’s report applauds its achievement of macroeconomic stability via privatisation and foreign direct investment, but finds organised crime remains a serious problem. The EC will warn Serbia once more that failure to fully cooperate with the Hague tribunal remains a key condition for resuming talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, the first step towards EU integration.
Albania needs to focus on implementation of its SAA, which will enter into force next month. Its EC report makes plain that a good track record in implementing the agreement signed last June will be essential, “before considering any future step towards EU integration”. Albania’s priorities will remain political, judicial and economic reforms, as well as the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Montenegro, in its first progress report since gaining independence earlier this year, is found to have made some advances in tackling corruption. But the EC wants to see this widespread problem dealt with at the overall legal and institutional level, which still “presents loopholes which allow for corruption and limit the capacity of the state to effectively prevent and prosecute corruption”.
The Commission’s findings in Bosnia and Herzegovina are disappointing. It reports that progress in the troubled state towards meeting political criteria has continued at a slower pace and that key political priorities set out in its European Partnership have been “only partially addressed”.
Kosovo’s territorial limbo presents a particular challenge to the EC, which is set to report that a future status settlement needs to be clear politically, as well as legally. “The Kosovo status question is sui generis and hence sets no precedent”, reads the draft progress report, which otherwise finds very serious problems in the United Nations-administered province in terms of organised crime and its influence on various socio-economic sectors and politics.
While this year’s progress reports present a sobering picture of the Balkan transition, the EC admits that its overall enlargement strategy, saying ‘stop for now’ to potential members, is also a response to the negative feeling of EU citizens towards further expansion of the soon 27-nation bloc.
Macedonia became a candidate for EU membership last December and hopes to open accession talks in 2007. But the European Commission (EC) does not believe it is ready, concluding in its report that the “pace of reforms has slowed down in 2006, and the country needs to step up its efforts”.
Serbia’s report applauds its achievement of macroeconomic stability via privatisation and foreign direct investment, but finds organised crime remains a serious problem. The EC will warn Serbia once more that failure to fully cooperate with the Hague tribunal remains a key condition for resuming talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, the first step towards EU integration.
Albania needs to focus on implementation of its SAA, which will enter into force next month. Its EC report makes plain that a good track record in implementing the agreement signed last June will be essential, “before considering any future step towards EU integration”. Albania’s priorities will remain political, judicial and economic reforms, as well as the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Montenegro, in its first progress report since gaining independence earlier this year, is found to have made some advances in tackling corruption. But the EC wants to see this widespread problem dealt with at the overall legal and institutional level, which still “presents loopholes which allow for corruption and limit the capacity of the state to effectively prevent and prosecute corruption”.
The Commission’s findings in Bosnia and Herzegovina are disappointing. It reports that progress in the troubled state towards meeting political criteria has continued at a slower pace and that key political priorities set out in its European Partnership have been “only partially addressed”.
Kosovo’s territorial limbo presents a particular challenge to the EC, which is set to report that a future status settlement needs to be clear politically, as well as legally. “The Kosovo status question is sui generis and hence sets no precedent”, reads the draft progress report, which otherwise finds very serious problems in the United Nations-administered province in terms of organised crime and its influence on various socio-economic sectors and politics.
While this year’s progress reports present a sobering picture of the Balkan transition, the EC admits that its overall enlargement strategy, saying ‘stop for now’ to potential members, is also a response to the negative feeling of EU citizens towards further expansion of the soon 27-nation bloc.
