EC: Highlights of the 2011 Enlargement Package
Overview:
The European Commission (EC) has released its annual Enlargement Package. It recommends that Montenegro should open Accession negotiations on the basis of good implementation of the 2010 Opinion. It recommends also that Serbia be granted the status of official candidate conditional on the resumption of talks with Pristina. Indeed, the main condition for Serbia starting Accession negotiations relates to significant progress in these talks. Macedonia still awaits the start of negotiations because the "name" issue with Greece has yet to be resolved. The tense political environment in Albania continues to delay the start of EU negotiations. Progress on EU-related reforms in Bosnia has been poor due to the lack of a State government. These EC recommendations will be considered by the Council in early December.