EC: 2010 Enlargement Report
Overview:
The European Commission (EC) has published its annual Enlargement Report. The key development is the recommendation that Montenegro is ready to become an official candidate for membership. By contrast, Albania is not yet ready to be considered an official candidate due to the current political stand-off. The Report notes progress in the EU integration of the Western Balkans in other areas: Serbia’s membership bid has been forwarded to the Commission; Croatia is nearing the end of Accession negotiations and visa liberalisation has just been approved for Bosnia and Albania. However, significant problems remain. Macedonia has still not been able to start Accession negotiations because of the “name dispute”. Bosnia has made little progress in implementing reforms which would allow it to become an EU candidate.