Brussels, 24/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU should respect its commitment to the Balkans states joining the European Union in the future (assuming they meet the accession criteria) if it wants to remain credible and have any influence on the future of the Balkans, which is such an important region for the stability of the European continent as a whole, argued MEPs in a report by Fru Anna Ibrisagic (EPP-ED, Sweden) adopted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 24 April. Each potential new member from the region should be examined on its own merits, meaning that the accession to the EU of countries meeting the Copenhagen criteria should not be unduly postponed or rejected, explain the MEPs. The EP calls for a relaxing of the visa system in order to bring people in the Balkans closer to the EU (the Commission is considering publishing recommendations by July this year on relaxing the visa system for some countries in the region, like Serbia and FYROM, see EUROPE 9886 and 9888). The MEPs also favour the Balkan states being allowed to join EU programmes and agencies. On trade, the EP stresses the importance of reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to regional trade and trade between Western Balkan states and the EU. The report states that the EU27 should pull out the stops to encourage greater integration of the Balkans in the global economic and trade system through membership of the World Trade Organisation. All the countries in the region are urged to give the “highest priority” to tackling corruption, organised crime, people trafficking and drugs trafficking.
Bosnia Herzegovina. In a resolution adopted on 24 April, the EP regrets that the leaders of Bosnia Herzegovina have shown themselves unable to agree on a common political vision. The EP regrets that due to “short term nationalist” considerations, the leaders are neglecting the aim of joining the EU. The MEPs point out that the prospect of being allowed to join the EU was offered to Bosnia Herzegovina as a single country unit, and not to each of its constituent parts on a separate basis and the EU would therefore not tolerate any threats of secession or other attempts to undermine the national sovereignty of Bosnia Herzegovina. (H.B./transl.fl)