The future of the countries of the Western Balkans towards EU accession was the main focus of the 4th EPP Group Conference on the Western Balkans. The conference emphasised the progress and challenges of the accession procedure. The possibility of EU membership adds strong impetus to reform processes in the countries of the region aimed at further democratisation and improvement of the quality of life.

Eduard Kukan MEP, Chairman of the EP Delegation for Relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, underlined the important progress in the Balkans over the last couple of months. However, as 2014 unfolds, the overall picture remains rather mixed:

“2014 is also an election year in the Western Balkans. We had elections in Serbia a couple of weeks ago. We have upcoming elections in the FYR of Macedonia and later on this year in Kosovo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Whatever the result of the elections, it is important that the political parties in power look towards the European Union and continue to accomplish the reforms in order to become members. I would like to make it clear that we do not want to have a two-lane, fast-track, slow-lane Western Balkan region. We want to see advances in every country! The accession process can be tough. It can sometimes be frustrating, negotiations are demanding. But it is achievable. With sincere political dedication to reforms, with consensual political culture, it is attainable. I plead to my counterparts in the Balkans to keep their eyes on the prize. Speaking on behalf of the European Parliament, the countries in the Western Balkans have our utmost support in their integration aspirations”, he concluded. More click here