News
Commissioner Štefan Füle met President Foreign Minister of Iceland Őssur Skarphéðinsson
14/05/2012 Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met with the Foreign Minister of Iceland Őssur Skarphéðinsson in Brussels on 14 May to discuss the state of the accession negotiations. They focused on the latest progress in the accession process of Iceland where so far 15 chapters have been opened of which 10 are provisionally closed and the preparations are ongoing to open further chapters next month. This reflects Iceland's own merits and its advanced stage of integration with the European Union. Commissioner Füle noted that negotiations are now going to touch more challenging chapters like agriculture, fisheries, capital controls, (regional policy, food safety, customs, taxation and environment policy areas). He will discuss these and other issues with his Icelandic partners in more detail during his visit to Iceland next week.
Commissioner Füle opens the second session of the High Level Accession Dialogue in Skopje
07/05/2012 Commissioner Štefan Füle and the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia opened the second session of the High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) in Skopje on 7 May, reviewing the progress achieved in the reform efforts since the HLAD was first launched last March and discussing the next set of issues for the next session of the Dialogue in September. The HLAD aims to provide the support of the European Commission for the accession process of the country through a structures high level discussion on the main reform challenges and opportunities. Commissioner Füle started his visit in Skopje by meeting the president of the Parliament Trajko Veljanoski and discussing with the members of the NCEI which is a cross party body encompassing also representatives of the civil society. Commissioner Fule underlined the importance for the HLAD to be inclusive process engaging all the relevant stakeholders in the society and underlined the role the Parliament and NCEI play in this.
Albania: Potential to move higher up in the enlargement process
04/05/2012 Commissioner Füle visited Albania on 3 May to encourage the country to continue implementing the reforms needed for progress towards the EU. He had meetings with President of the Republic Mr Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Mr Sali Berisha, opposition Socialist Party leader Mr Edi Rama, Parliament Speaker Ms. Jozefina Topalli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Edmond Haxhinasto, Minister for European Integration Ms. Majlinda Bregu, Minister of Justice Mr. Eduard Halimi and Minister of Interior Mr. Bujar Nishani. He also delivered a speech to the Albanian Parliament and met the Ombudsman Mr. Igli Totozani. Commissioner Füle said Albania's EU perspective was real provided the country delivers credible and sustainable results on EU-related reforms, particularly as regards the 12 key priorities of the Opinion. He stressed the need for Albania's EU integration agenda to become the national agenda and an inclusive process, for the government, opposition and civil society. He also called for a smooth conduct of the upcoming presidential elections as an important factor for the stability of the political dialogue between government and opposition. Political leaders, notably Prime Minister Berisha and opposition leader Rama expressed their commitment to continue constructive engagement in the reform process.
EU Provides Vessels for the Border Police 
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For many years Albania has struggled to police effectively its maritime borders. Illicit trafficking has constituted a security threat to Albania and to its neighbours. The Albanian capacity to patrol its maritime borders remains a major concern, although the government’s efforts together with a strong international presence at sea, have had a positive impact.
Helping the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina adapt to EU Banking Standards [489 KB]
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Central Bank (CBBH) has contributed to the country’s post-war recovery. It has made significant progress towards introducing administrative and policy mechanisms that will allow it to participate fully in the European System of Central Banks when Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes an EU member.
Ears Wide Open – EU Promotes Inclusion of People with Disabilities [379 KB]
There are around 430,000 people with disabilities in Croatia, 9.7% of the total population. The Ears Wide Open project was designed to improve working conditions, communication and integration of students with hearing and other disabilities, both in schools and later in workplaces.
“Let me tell you a secret about the environment” [132 KB] Teaching children about the environment is vital for the future. That is why the EU, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, organised a project around a play based on the brochure
"Let me tell you a secret about the environment".
Efficient Energy Use in Public Buildings [580 KB] Kosovo faces a big challenge in the field of energy efficiency due to low levels of energy production and high levels of energy consumption. The EU funded a project to invest in energy-saving measures in public buildings, which brought
environmental and economic benefits.
Modernising Quality Infrastructure [153 KB]
Montenegro's preparations for European Union accession in the area of free movement of goods are moderately advanced. The country needs to build up its institutional and administrative capacity, enhance cooperation between State institutions and align its legal framework with EU legislation.
"Garden of Serbia" - Helping Serbia's Agriculture Sector [662 KB]
Even though it is one of the oldest industries in Serbia, agricultural production still faces several weaknesses and gaps in its value chain. Producers are constantly facing new requirements for food safety and quality standards in the processing sector yet there is a lack of demonstration centres for training and support for new initiatives.
Setting Up a National Food Reference Laboratory [349 KB]
Designation of National Reference Laboratories is one of the requirements of EU legislation on official food and feed controls. In Turkey there was a need for a National Reference Laboratory to provide a higher quality food safety system and guidance for alignment with the relevant standards. The project was launched in 2005 to fill this gap and meet EU accession requirements.
Customs Legislation Closer to EU Standards [147 KB]
Customs legislation in the former Republic of Macedonia is well aligned with the body of EU law. But further measures are necessary. That is why, with the help of EU experts, the Macedonian customs legislation and procedures were assessed, and evaluated against the requirements of EU law.