Tim Judah calls for quicker EU accession for Balkan states

Tim Judah writes in the Financial Times that the Balkan states belong in the EU. All of the problems are surmountable, Judah contends, and urges EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton to strike while the iron is hot: "Lady Ashton needs to energise a process that has stagnated in recent months. When it comes to Kosovo, Europe can move things forward, especially in partnership with the US. We do not need a final settlement now, but we do need compromises and constructive ambiguity from both sides. Serbia, which applied for membership last year, needs to be moved to candidate status as soon as possible, as do Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia. Macedonia needs a date to start talks on accession. The European Commission has recommended that Bosnians and Albanians are ready for visa-free travel to the Schengen zone. This needs to be granted now. ... None of this is very complicated. There are some 22 million people in the western Balkans, roughly the same amount as in Beijing. Difficult though their problems may be, they are eminently resolvable. Let's hope that Lady Ashton's low profile until now was just her induction period. These are problems you can solve, so come on Catherine, speak for Europe."

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Serbia, » Bosnien, » Mazedonien, » Kosovo, » Montenegro