Brussels, 12/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 14 October, the Commission will present its 2009 annual reports on the candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia, FYROM) as well as on the five Balkan states that are all aspiring to EU membership (Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo).
As far as Turkey is concerned, the report will again be mixed. The Commission is expected to note that, despite some progress made (for example on respect of the Kurds' cultural rights), the rate of reform remains unsatisfactory. Special emphasis will be placed on continued shortcomings regarding the protection of individual freedoms - freedom of expression, freedom of the media, religious freedom, trade union freedom, gender equality, etc. - as well as on insufficient progress made in the field of judiciary reform. The Commission will also criticise the fact that Turkey has still not opened its ports and airports to Cyprus as it had pledged to do under the additional protocol on customs union. Ankara will be called upon to make progress in the normalisation of its bilateral relations with Cyprus and to support the negotiating process underway on reunification of the island. On the positive side, the Commission will above all highlight the stabilising effect that the country has in the region of the Caucasus. It will welcome the signing, on 10 October, of the two protocols with Armenia on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, including the opening of their common border. On Saturday, Commissioners Olli Rehn and Benita Ferrero-Waldner as well as the Swedish Presidency had already welcomed the “historic step” taken towards normalising relations between the two countries. The progress report will also underline the important role that Turkey will play in future in the EU's energy policy, especially as part of the Nabucco project.
The Commission is expected to state that the accession talks with Croatia that resumed on 3 October after being blocked for several months may be closed during the first half of 2010 on condition that reforms continue relentlessly. Zagreb will also be called upon to step up the fight against organised crime and corruption, to make faster progress in reform of the legal sector, police and administration, and also to improve its cooperation with the International Criminal Court on the former Yugoslavia. The Commission will welcome the substantial progress made by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) although it must, however, find a solution with Greece on the use of the name “Macedonia” before being able to hope for the European Council's (unanimous) green light on opening membership talks. (H.B./transl.jl)