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Commission presents Enlargement Package today

The Commission's annual 'Enlargement Package' was presented today, 14 October. It contains a strategy for the work on EU enlargement during 2009 and 2010. Monitoring reports for all the countries included in the enlargement process are part of the package. This year the package also contains a special communication on how Kosovo's EU perspective can be strengthened. A framework for EU pre-accession assistance is also included.

Denna webbplats fungerar numera som arkiv och uppdateras inte. Här fanns tidigare ett foto som är borttaget på grund av upphovsrättsliga skäl.

This website is now functioning as an archive and will not be updated. Previously there was a photo here which has been removed for copyright reasons.

Faisant dorénavant office d’archives, ce site n’est plus remis à jour. Ici se trouvait précédemment placée une photo ayant été retirée pour des raisons de droits d'auteur.

Photo: European Communities, 2009

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn presented the report on Wednesday.

The Swedish Presidency welcomes the package. During October and November the different parts of the Enlargement Package will be analysed and prepared in Council working parties. In December the Council will adopt conclusions that reflect the Council’s view of the Commission’s assessments and recommendations.

The countries with a membership perspective are Croatia and Turkey, which are negotiating for membership, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which is a candidate country but has not yet begun negotiations, and the countries of the Western Balkans: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo.

In summary, the Commission states in its report that the attraction of the EU has been confirmed by the three applications for membership that have been made during the past year – from Montenegro, Albania and Iceland. The Commission reports on the state of play in the accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey, and on the situation on the Cyprus issue. The Commission considers that, on the whole, the countries of South-Eastern Europe have made progress in drawing closer to the EU, despite the past year’s global economic crisis. Particular attention is given to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and a number of unresolved bilateral issues that have had a negative effect on the process.

An expected decision on visa liberalisation for FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia from 2010 is presented as an example of where the countries’ efforts for reform produce results and practical benefits for the countries’ citizens. The Commission is also continuing its dialogue on necessary reforms for visa liberalisation with Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo.

Published

14 October

11:59

Location

Editor

Sofia Karlberg

Press Officer

+46 8 405 10 00

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External Resources

  • Link to the Enlargement Package on the Commission website