EU To Add Balkan Countries By 2025

Back in 2007, the EU had let some 13 Eastern and Central European states join the Union bloc in a four year period, and whilst many welcomed the enlargement of the EU to a 550 million strong population cooperation of 28 nations, some thought it would be difficult to harmonize all those cultures.

Although more countries wanted to join, the prospect of adding some more western Balkan nations to the bloc was put on the back burner as politicians wanted to see how the development would work out.

Now, faced with superpowers as India and China who count more than a billion in population and seeing the success of the single market to its citizens, the EU Commission announced that it has plans for a new enlargement to the East (probably much to the dismay of Russia).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Strategy for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WesternBalkans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WesternBalkans</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EU</a> sets out new flagship initiatives &amp; support for the reform-driven region➡️ <a href="https://t.co/uOj6Koq59y">https://t.co/uOj6Koq59y</a> <a href="https://t.co/w3RwhCLimM">pic.twitter.com/w3RwhCLimM</a></p>&mdash; EU NEAR (@eu_near) <a href="https://twitter.com/eu_near/status/960870275641376768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Plans are set for a grand, new push toward enlargement, hoping to welcome several western Balkan states in the EU within the next seven years, though some obstacles still lay ahead.

Six countries are expected to join: Serbia and Montenegro (for whom most expect no issues), Macedonia and Albania (waiting for talks to start) and lastly, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo (for whom most expect a longer period before joining).

After 2025, most EU politicians in Brussels believe Ukraine and Moldavia will apply for membership.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Strategy for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WesternBalkans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WesternBalkans</a>: An investment in a stable, strong &amp; united <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Europe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Europe</a> based on common values.<br>All infos on the strategy➡️ <a href="https://t.co/uOj6Koq59y">https://t.co/uOj6Koq59y</a> <br>Q&amp;A➡️<a href="https://t.co/bgnnXNlnc6">https://t.co/bgnnXNlnc6</a> <br>Full text of the strategy➡️<a href="https://t.co/kbBANTMoSR">https://t.co/kbBANTMoSR</a> <a href="https://t.co/npbMrUcHsp">pic.twitter.com/npbMrUcHsp</a></p>&mdash; EU NEAR (@eu_near) <a href="https://twitter.com/eu_near/status/960953954187317248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Mr Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations claimed: "There is no shortcut."

"We wouldn't have recommended them otherwise."

It's important to "export stability to the region rather than importing instability to the EU."

"We are not shortening the tunnel, but we've made sure the light at the end is brighter."

Source:

http://www.dw.com/en/eu-announces-ambitious-expansion-plans-in-western-balkans/a-42473497