The Balkans at Europe's door

Le Monde analyses the European future of the Balkans: "The arrest of Radovan Karadžić, the former political leader of the Bosnian Serbs, ... should give new impetus to the process of EU accession. The EU has given priority status to the accession of the countries of former Yugoslavia and neighbouring Albania. ... EU expansion in the Western Balkans is viewed by Europeans as the best means of securing stability and development in the region. ... According to experts at the European Policy Centre think tank in Brussels, the difficulty for the European Union consists in balancing two strategies. The first is maintaining order in a region which is not yet entirely peaceful. The other is securing the transition of the Western Balkans to Europe. ... To ... permit a true 'Europeanisation' of the Western Balkans, ... the Union must demonstrate its unflinching commitment. ... Yet both sides harbour doubts as far as the political will of the other is concerned. The time has come to dispel these doubts. We must speak clearly, to establish mutual trust and make the 'European perspective' a reality for the countries of this region as soon as possible."

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