Swedish FM on W. Balkans progress

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said that he expects progress for the Western Balkans in visa liberalization during Sweden’s six-month EU presidency. He presented Sweden’s presidency plan in Brussels this Monday, stating that Sweden will work on enlarging the EU to include Croatia and Turkey, and also work on completing the visa liberalization question with the countries of the Western Balkans. Swedish FM on W. Balkans progress Bildt said that Sweden will remain dedicated to negotiations for membership with Croatia and Turkey, even though there are obstacles in the way of both countries. “The request of Montenegro to receive candidate status has arrived to the European Commission and we hope that we will receive an application from Albania as well after next week’s elections,” he explained. The Swedish minister said that he hopes that there will be progress in the European integration of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, stating that the visa liberalization for the countries of the Western Balkans is now a key issue for the EU. He said that the speed of progress in the technical questions related to visa liberalization will depend on the countries themselves, adding that he expects a recommendation from the European Commission regarding the matter very soon. As for the unfreezing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), Bildt said that Serbia has made great progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, but that it "remains to be seen whether that will be enough". Bildt in Brussels today (Tanjug)

Swedish FM on W. Balkans progress

Bildt said that Sweden will remain dedicated to negotiations for membership with Croatia and Turkey, even though there are obstacles in the way of both countries.

“The request of Montenegro to receive candidate status has arrived to the European Commission and we hope that we will receive an application from Albania as well after next week’s elections,” he explained.

The Swedish minister said that he hopes that there will be progress in the European integration of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, stating that the visa liberalization for the countries of the Western Balkans is now a key issue for the EU.

He said that the speed of progress in the technical questions related to visa liberalization will depend on the countries themselves, adding that he expects a recommendation from the European Commission regarding the matter very soon.

As for the unfreezing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), Bildt said that Serbia has made great progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, but that it "remains to be seen whether that will be enough".