"In the West Balkan region, the European Union has set out to strengthen peace and improve the living conditions of the local population. We cooperate with these countries to develop their democracies and reform the economic systems. The achievement of these goals will enable them to move closer to the EU". Josè Manuel Barroso, president of Brussels’ Executive Committee, explains the goals of the journey that will take him, from tomorrow until Saturday 18th February, to Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro (Kosovo included), FYROM, Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina. Barroso, who will go with Olli Rehn, EU Accession Commissioner, intends to "encourage the rulers of the host countries to work harder for their reforms" in order to "expedite the European integration process". During the Salonika meeting of 2003, the EU had recognised the European perspective for all of the West Balkans. Since then, these states have moved in different ways: Croatia is already negotiating its accession to the EU; FYROM was granted the "nominee" status; Albania is about to enter as an associate member; Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro have recently opened negotiations to enter the same deal.
