Brussels, 21/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The 27 EU member states remain attached to a “multi-ethnic and multi-cultural” Bosnia-Herzegovina within the current borders and with clear prospects of one day joining the European Union, said Herman Van Rompuy, the permanent president of the European Council, speaking in Sarajevo on 20 October. “Simply put, the European integration of the Western Balkans cannot be successful without Bosnia”, he said. For now, the other countries of the region are moving forward on the road to integration whereas Bosnia, whose political leaders are deeply divided over the institutional and political future of the country, continues to lag behind. This unsatisfactory situation “is not in the country's interest, not in the region's interest, and certainly not in the EU's interest”, Van Rompuy underlined, calling for the necessary political reforms to be made.
Albania. Later in the day, in Tirana, Van Rompuy reassured the Albanian authorities that a “fair and objective” assessment would be made of the request for accession. The Commission's opinion is expected on 10 November, together with that on Montenegro. Respect of democratic principles and of rule of law will be subjects that will receive special attention from the EU, he said. The president of the European Council also said he was optimistic that Albania would “soon” benefit from “visa liberalisation”. A decision on this could be reached at the JHA Council on 8/9 November, he added. (H.B./transl.jl)