"Whole western Balkans to be integrated by 2018"

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik expects the whole western Balkans to have joined the EU by 2018.

Izvor: Tanjug

Saturday, 05.04.2008.

13:53

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Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik expects the whole western Balkans to have joined the EU by 2018. “I’m working on the basis that, by 2018, all the western Balkan states will have met EU standards, and will have applied the criteria in their entirety, thus enabling them to become Union members,” says Plassnik in an interview with Vienna daily Standard. "Whole western Balkans to be integrated by 2018" The minister disagrees with Austrian Chamber of Commerce President Christoph Leitl who has called for EU expansion to be suspended for the next ten years. “I was surprised when I read that statement. Leitl knows fine well the significance this region has for Austrian companies and jobs in Austria. The facts attest to this,” she says with regards to the western Balkans. Plassnik goes on to state her opposition to holding a referendum in Austria on the Lisbon Treaty. “MPs consider and pass important rulings every day. They’re now going to adopt the rules of procedure for the 27 EU member-states. There’s no reason why MPs should not handle such themes,” she said, adding that in future a referendum should be held throughout the EU, as that would make more sense than individual member-states deciding.

"Whole western Balkans to be integrated by 2018"

The minister disagrees with Austrian Chamber of Commerce President Christoph Leitl who has called for EU expansion to be suspended for the next ten years.

“I was surprised when I read that statement. Leitl knows fine well the significance this region has for Austrian companies and jobs in Austria. The facts attest to this,” she says with regards to the western Balkans.

Plassnik goes on to state her opposition to holding a referendum in Austria on the Lisbon Treaty.

“MPs consider and pass important rulings every day. They’re now going to adopt the rules of procedure for the 27 EU member-states. There’s no reason why MPs should not handle such themes,” she said, adding that in future a referendum should be held throughout the EU, as that would make more sense than individual member-states deciding.

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