Serbia submits application for EU membership to Swedish Presidency

22/12/2009

Serbian President Boris Tadic today submitted Serbia's candidacy for EU membership to Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, acting on behalf of the EU's presidency. The decision on submitting Serbia's candidacy was reached by the Serbian Government on Saturday 19/12/09. Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement, as well as Foreign Minister Bildt of Sweden were also present at the ceremony in Stockholm.

50 serbian citizens win trips to EU within "Europe for Everyone" project

18/12/2009

Citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia will be able to travel to the Schengen area without visas as from 19 December 2009. To mark this occasion, the office of Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Djelic launched a project "Europe for everyone", giving opportunity to 50 Serbian citizens to travel to Rome, Paris, Berlin and Brussels, on the first day of the visa liberalisation. The winners of the competition, who have never been to EU countries, will have the opportunity to learn about the customs and traditions of four EU countries, to build bridges and to bring back to Serbia a personally enriching experience which will also be of value to those around them.

The Commission presents Albania with a Questionnaire to assess the country's application to join EU

17/12/2009

On 16 December the Head of the EU Delegation in Tirana, Mr Helmut Lohan, handed over the questionnaire necessary to prepare an assessment of the country's readiness to fulfil EU membership obligations to Prime Minister Berisha. "Today's handing over of the questionnaire marks an important milestone on Albania's European path. Replying to the questionnaire is a demanding task which requires strong commitment from the entire public administration", Mr Helmut Lohan said on behalf of Commissioner Rehn. Based on the Commission's Opinion, the Member States will decide whether to grant candidate status or open membership negotiations with Albania.

EU Info Centre in Tirana opened

17/12/2009

An EU Info Centre (EUIC) was opened on 24 November in Tirana, the first of its kind in Albania. The opening ceremony was attended by several high level invitees including the Albanian Prime Minister, Dr Sali Berisha, Minister of European Integration Bregu and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ilir Meta. The inauguration ribbon was cut by Mr Pierre Mirel, Director of the European Commission’s DG Enlargement Unit for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo Issues and Prime Minister Berisha, thus signalling the official opening of the EU Info Centre in Tirana. In his opening speech, Mr Mirel noted that "informed citizens are instrumental to successful EU integration from both Albania’s and the European Union’s perspective."

"The Western Balkans: Overcoming the economic crisis, from regional cooperation to EU membership"

11/12/2009

On 9 December, the European Commission's DG Enlargement and the Swedish Presidency of the EU organised a Conference on "The Western Balkans: Overcoming the economic crisis, from regional cooperation to EU membership". The conference was attended by some 200 high level participants including ministers and senior officials from the Western Balkans' countries, as well as EU Member States, Turkey, USA, Russia, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Moldova. The participants also signed a declaration on the establishment of the Western Balkans Investment Framework, to address the region’s investment needs. In his speech, Commissioner Olli Rehn noted that 'the EU will continue to honour its commitment to the region and that the pace of political and economic reforms in the countries will continue to determine the pace of their progress towards EU membership.'

Montenegro hands over replies to the questionnaire

10/12/2009

On 9 December, Montenegro's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic handed over to Commissioner Rehn Montenegro's replies to the Questionnaire for the preparation of the Commission's Opinion on Montenegro's application for EU membership. Olli Rehn congratulated Montenegro for this new symbolical and real step on its European path and called on Montenegro to continue the reform process especially on the effective implementation of laws and consolidation of rule of law. He further emphasised that the Commision's mandate and aim is to prepare a fair and balanced Opinion on Montenegro's readiness to comply with the criteria for membership and make a proposal to the Council on the next stages of Montenegro's EU accession course. Based on the Commission's Opinion, the Member States will decide whether to grant candidate status or open membership negotiations with Montenegro.

The EU decides to start implementing the Interim Agreement with Serbia

09/12/2009

On 7 December the Council of the EU decided that the Interim Agreement with the Republic of Serbia will be implemented as soon as possible. This means that the EU will start applying the agreement immediately. The Interim Agreement provides for the establishment of a free trade area between the EU and Serbia and regulates some important aspects of the economic life, notably in the area of competition and state aid. The agreement guarantees that EU market will remain open to virtually all Serbian products as it includes the trade concessions that the EU has been granted to Serbia since 2000. The Interim Agreement is expected to enter into force on 1 February 2010 and in the meantime, it will be implemented on a provisional basis.

Mr Paul Vandoren heading the European Union’s Delegation in Zagreb

07/12/2009

On 7 December the new Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Croatia, Mr Paul Vandoren , handed over his credentials to President Stjepan Mesic. Before his appointment as Head of Delegation, Mr Vandoren was Acting Head of the EC Delegation to Russia. The Commission, through the EU Delegations in the Western Balkan and Turkey, accompanies and supports the integration process and the implementation of the necessary reforms. Previously appointed Heads of Delegations are: Mr Marc Pierini (Turkey, since 2006), Mr Erwan Fouéré (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 2005), Mr Helmuth Lohan (Albania, 2006), Mr Dimitris Kourkoulas (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2006), Mr Leopold Maurer (Montenegro, 2008), Mr Vincent Degert (Serbia, 2009); Mr Renzo Daviddi heads the EC Liaison Office to Kosovo since 2007.

Visa liberalisation for three Western Balkan countries

30/11/2009

On 30 November the EU decided that the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia will be able to travel without visa to the Schengen area as of 19 December 2009. "Today's decision reflects the clear European perspective of the Western Balkan countries and is the result of the hard work of the countries concerned to meet the requirements for visa liberalisation," said Olli Rehn, the Commissioner for Enlargement. The new visa free regime will apply to all holders of biometric passports, who can now travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days per six-month period.

Albania's application for membership: Commission invited to submit Opinion

19/11/2009

On 16 November the Council invited the European Commission to submit its Opinion on Albania's application for membership. The Council reiterated that each country's progress towards the EU depends on its individual efforts to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The European Commission welcomed the decision of the Council and indicated its would start preparing the opinion procedures immediately. The Opinion is a comprehensive analysis of a country's capacity to meet the criteria for membership of the European Union. On the basis of the Opinion the Council will decide whether and when to proceed to the next stages of the accession process. Albania submitted its application for EU membership on 28 April 2009.

Agreement on the establishment of a European Commission Delegation in Iceland signed

16/11/2009

On 16 November Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations, and Össur Skarphedinsson, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement on the establishment of a European Commission Delegation in Iceland. Iceland submitted its application for EU membership to the Council in July 2009. At the end of July, the Council asked the European Commission to prepare an opinion on Iceland's application. On the basis of the answers to questions contained in a questionnaire completed by the Icelandic authorities and returned by 19 October, the Commission is currently drafting a recommendation to submit to the Council.

European Parliament votes in favour of visa-free travel for citizens of three Western Balkan states

12/11/2009

On 12 November the European Parliament voted in favour of visa-free travel for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. This sends a positive signal to the region and marks an important step towards its European integration. The final decision will be taken by the Council of the European Union on 30 November. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which do not yet meet the requirements for visa liberalisation, were reassured that they have a clear perspective for visa free travel as soon as they have implemented the necessary reforms.

Financial package for the accession negotiations with Croatia adopted

10/11/2009

The Commission adopted a Communication on a so-called "financial package" for the accession negotiations with Croatia on 29 October. Based on existing EU legislation and on the methodology used in the financial negotiations with the 12 newest member states, the Communication makes proposals for financial amounts in favour of Croatia following its accession to the EU. The Communication will serve as a basis for the Council to debate the main financial aspects of the accession of Croatia to the EU. This will allow the accession negotiations to make further progress, in particular in the fields of agriculture, regional policy, and financial and budgetary provisions.

Commissioner Rehn welcomes Serbian Foreign Minister Jeremic

05/11/2009

On 5 November Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn met with the Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. This meeting gave them an opportunity to discuss the findings of the recently published Commission progress report on Serbia. Commissioner Rehn commended the Serbian Government, the Parliament and civil society for making concerted efforts in driving the reform process forward. He also reiterated the Commission's view expressed in its enlargement strategy that the Interim Agreement should be unblocked on the basis of progress made by Serbia. On the same day, Commissioner Rehn also met Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community during his visit to Brussels, on his request. Main subject of the meeting were recent developments in the Cyprus settlement talks.

Statement by Commissioner Rehn on the the signing of the Slovenia – Croatia agreement

04/11/2009

"This is a very good day for Slovenia and Croatia, and the European Union. I want to congratulate the Prime Ministers and both countries, as well as the Swedish Presidency for this historic agreement. This is a most European way of peaceful settlement of disputes. I encourage both countries to proceed with ratification without unnecessary delay, and hope that Croatia makes the last mile in the negotiations, which are reaching the final stage."

Commissioner Rehn co-chairs at Butmir meeting with Bosnian leaders

28/10/2009

Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg co-chaired the meeting with political leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 and 22 October in Butmir, Sarajevo. The meeting followed up on a first meeting convened on 9 October by the EU and US to stimulate political dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina and establish a platform from which the country can deliver concrete progress on the reform agenda for integration into the EU and NATO membership. A set of proposals was shared with the parties to help the country meet the conditions for transition of the Office of the High Representative to a reinforced EU Special Representative and meet the EU and NATO requirements.

"Enlarge your vision" - The 2010 European Young Journalist Award kicks off!

22/10/2009

On 20 October the Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement launched the 2010 European Young Journalist Award, a pan-European competition for young journalists, offering the opportunity to more young journalists to showcase their talent. On the occasion of the launch Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement said: "The third edition of the European Young Journalist Award continues to reward excellent journalism and gives the European Commission the opportunity to exchange ideas with Europe’s most promising young journalists about questions at the heart of the EU Enlargement project." The competition will be open until 28 February 2010.

Effective Support for Enlargement

16/10/2009

On 19 October the Commission and the Swedish Presidency will hold a joint conference on "Effective Support for Enlargement". The joint event will build on the conclusions of the previous conferences and examine broader aspects of the aid effectiveness agenda. Particular attention will be given to the EU's Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and its articulation with assistance provided by other donors and financial institutions given its decisive role in preparing the countries for their future EU membership. more >>

The EU Enlargement Process: A Year of Progress in the Western Balkans and Turkey

14/10/2009

On 14 October the Commission adopted its annual strategy on EU enlargement. The communication highlights the progress the Western Balkans and Turkey made towards European integration during the past year and spells out the main challenges facing them in the months and years to come. In the light of the progress achieved, the Commission decided to recommend the opening of negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In a major step forward for the region, visa liberalisation for the Western Balkans will progress substantially in 2010. Further information is available at the special page dedicated to the " 2009 Enlargement package".

President Barroso appoints personal Representative to the UN Good Offices Mission in Cyprus

12/10/2009

Commission President José Manuel Barroso has decided to second Mr Leopold Maurer as his personal Representative to the Good Offices Mission of the United Nations in Cyprus. This follows a request by the United Nations and is a further demonstration that the European Commission is committed to supporting the Cyprus settlement process. Mr Maurer will provide advice to the UN Good Offices Mission on EU-related matters. He will continue to carry out his function as Head of Delegation in Montenegro.

The European Commission proposes €200 million financial assistance to Serbia

09/10/2009

On 8 October the European Commission proposed to the Council to provide macro-financial assistance to Serbia, in the form of a loan of up to €200 million. The assistance will help the country mitigate the impacts of the financial and economic crisis and would be provided in two instalments, tentatively in the second and fourth quarter of 2010. The proposed assistance comes on top of the EU budget support in the form of €100 million in grants agreed in August under the IPA – Instrument of Pre-Accession programme.

EU and the United States convene a meeting of political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina

08/10/2009

On 9 October the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) will convene a meeting of the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. The meeting will be co-chaired by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt representing the Presidency of the EU, and US Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg. The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, will also participate. The meeting will be an important opportunity for the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to manifest their political will to overcome the stalemate and establish a platform from which their country can deliver concrete progress on both the EU and NATO reform agenda.

EU supports the fight against money laundering in Albania

07/10/2009

A 27-month-long EU-funded project in support of Albania’s fight against money laundering, came to a successful end on 29 September. As a result, Albania’s Financial Intelligence Unit is working with other public authorities and private companies including banks and notaries to identify suspicious financial transactions. By identifying such transactions, authorities will be able to better prosecute individuals and organisations involved in criminal activities and to seize their assets. On the occasion, the Head of the EC Delegation to Tirana, Mr Helmuth Lohan said "I am pleased to see that this project has contributed to modernising and enhancing the capacities of Albanian institutions to prevent money laundering."

Progress in Croatia's EU accession process

02/10/2009

At the meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference with Croatia on 2 October in Brussels, six chapters were opened and five closed in the country's negotiations with the EU. Accession negotiations with Croatia have entered a decisive stage and further substantial progress in the accession negotiations can be expected over the next months. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn noted: "I welcome the agreement between the two Prime Ministers to settle this issue and reopen Croatia's accession negotiations. Therefore it is a win-win day for Slovenia and Croatia, but also win-win-win, because Europe is winning today as well." Croatia has now opened 28 chapters and provisionally closed twelve with the EU underlining that on all these chapters, monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis would continue throughout the negotiations.

Commission President Barroso and Commissioner Rehn welcome Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu

02/10/2009

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, welcomed Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Brussels on 2 October. They discussed the final details of Turkey’s progress report and the EU’s Enlargement Strategy document in relation to Turkey’s accession, both of which are expected to be released on 14 October.

Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot to visit Belgrade and Podgorica on 28 and 29 September 2009

28/09/2009

Vice-President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot, responsible for justice, freedom and security, will visit Belgrade on 28 and 29 September, where he will take part in the regional conference "Facing the Challenges of Organised and Serious Crimes in the Western Balkans" organised by the Serbian ministries of Justice and Interior. He will also participate in a series of bilateral meetings with his Serbian counterparts on the topics of visas, police and judicial reforms in Serbia. He will then travel to Montenegro where he will meet President Vujanovic, Prime Minister Djukanovic and other Montenegrin officials to review progress of Montenegro concerning visas as well as judicial and police reform..

The EU supports higher standards of journalism in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99)

25/09/2009

The second phase of the EU-funded project to support the Kosovo Media Institute started on 23 September. Through support to the Media Institute the project aims to contribute to the development of high editorial standards for print and broadcast media and facilitate a free, responsible and sustainable media landscape in accordance with European standards. Activities covered under this phase of the project will include organisation of certified training programmes for journalists, organisation of diploma courses, further development of advocacy, media policy and networking initiatives. The first phase of the project started in January 2009.

Commission President Barroso and Commissioner Rehn congratulate Sali Berisha on his re-election

18/09/2009

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, have congratulated the Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, on his re-election. The President noted that Albania demonstrated its will to foster cooperation in the Western Balkans and wished PM Berisha every success in tackling the challenges ahead and in working towards fulfilling Albania's European future. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn added: "[...] The elections have been completed in line with most OSCE commitments, however some shortcomings remain. Albania has demonstrated its readiness to advance on the European Integration path. The Commission remains committed to supporting Albania on its road to the EU."

The Commission approves the Annual Report on the Green Line in Cyprus

17/09/2009

On 14 September the European Commission approved the fifth annual report on the implementation of the EU Regulation on the Green Line in Cyprus covering the year to 30 April 2009. The Regulation, in force since 1 May 2004, provides the legal basis for people and goods to cross the Green Line. Trade in goods increased by more than a third though challenges remain. Following the adoption of the Report Commissioner Rehn stated: “I welcome the positive results of this year's Green Line Report and I am particularly encouraged by the further substantial increase in Green Line trade. more-->

Fight against Organised Crime in the Western Balkans

11/09/2009

On 9 September 2009 the Ministers of Interior of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of International Law Enforcement Coordination Units (ILECUs). The signing of the Memorandum took place in the framework of the flagship CARDS regional project ILECUs, funded by the European Commission. The project aims, through the establishment of International Law Enforcement Cooperation Units, at supporting information exchange in cross-border criminal investigations and facilitating communication at operational level to fight organised crime. The EC funded project is implemented by a consortium led by the Austria’s Federal Ministry of Interior, in partnership with Slovenia and Romania. Europol and Interpol are associates in the project implementation.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn starts his visit of Iceland

08/09/2009

Commissioner Rehn will pay his first visit to Iceland since this country submitted its application for EU-membership in July 2009. On 8 September, the Commissioner will hand over the questionnaire to the government of Iceland. The replies to the questionnaire, which are due back on 16 November 2009, are necessary for the Commission to prepare the opinion on Iceland's application for EU membership. During his visit, Commissioner Rehn will also meet the representatives of the Icelandic Parliament - the Althingi - as well as the Foreign Minister and the Finance Minister of Iceland. On 9 September he will hold a lecture at the University of Iceland.

European young journalists receive award for articles on EU enlargement

31/08/2009

National winners of the European Young Journalist Award 2009 will visit Berlin for the winners' trip and final conference in celebration of their success and at the same time look back at the past 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The European Young Journalist Award is organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement in cooperation with the European Youth Press and Café Babel, and is one the largest pan-European competitions of its kind. The competition was open to young writers aged 17-35 from the EU member states as well as from candidate countries and potential candidates and attracted more than 600 articles.

The EU approved the € 39 million financial crisis response package for Bosnia and Herzegovina

11/08/2009

On 11 August the European Commission adopted a programme to help Bosnia and Herzegovina mitigate the impacts of the financial and economic crisis. The grant will support the development of small and medium sized enterprises and provide significant investment in infrastructure in the transport, environment, and energy sectors. The € 39 million has been allocated under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance envelope for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the second programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure continuation of important institution-building efforts in the country being adopted in autumn 2009.

EU approves budget support for Serbia and the financial crisis package for the Western Balkans and Turkey

31/07/2009

On 31 July the European Commission has granted €100 million to Serbia as general budget support to help with the stabilisation of the country and ease the economic and social consequences of the financial crisis. The Commission has also approved a substantial package to assist acceding countries to tackle the current economic difficulties. The €85 million grant finance from the European Commission is part of the overall Crisis Response Package for the Western Balkans that should total €150 million in Commission grants and €600 million in loans from partner International Financial Institutions, such as the European Investment Bank and the EBRD

EU Foreign Ministers ask the Commission to draft Opinion on Iceland's application for EU membership

27/07/2009

On 27 July, EU Foreign Ministers formally asked the Commission to draft an Opinion on Iceland's application for EU membership.

The Commission's work on the Opinion will include an assessment of the country's capacity to comply with the criteria for membership. On the basis of this Opinion, Member States will decide whether to open formal membership negotiations with Iceland.

Iceland submitted its application for membership of the European Union to the Presidency in Stockholm after the Icelandic Parliament (the Althingi) agreed with 33 votes for, 28 against and 2 abstentions. The formal application was submitted to the Swedish Presidency on 23 July. more >>

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn starts his visit of four Western Balkan countries

22/07/2009

Today, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn starts his visit of four Western Balkan countries. In the Republic of Serbia, he meets President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Deputy Prime Ministers Djelic and Dacic. He will bring the good news on visa free travel, following the proposal of the Commission last week. He will also discuss Serbia's European integration. Mr Rehn will then continue to travel to Podgorica, Montenegro, where he has meetings with Mr Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister, Mr Krivokapic, the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro, and Mr Vujanovic, the President of the Republic of Montenegro. Besides the good news on visa free travel Mr Rehn will also hand over the " questionnaire" to the Montenegrin authorities. The replies to the questionnaire are necessary for the Commission to prepare the opinion on Montenegro's application for EU membership.

Statement by the Commission on the decision of the Icelandic Parliament to apply for EU Membership

16/07/2009

Today the Parliament of Iceland voted in favour of presenting an application for membership in the EU. Commenting the news Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "The decision of the Icelandic Parliament is a sign of the vitality of the European project and indicative of the hope that Europe represents. Iceland is a European country with long and deep democratic roots. Iceland has very close relations with the EU after some 40 years of EFTA membership and 15 years in the European Economic Area (EEA). It is now up to the Icelandic government to follow-up this decision by officially applying to the Presidency of the EU." Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn added: "I am pleased that the EU's enlargement agenda may soon extend to Europe's north-western corner as well, with Iceland, a country with deep democratic traditions, in addition to our continued commitment to South East Europe."

The Commission proposes visa-free travel for citizens of three Western Balkan states

15/07/2009

The European Commission proposed on 15 July that citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro be able to travel to Schengen countries without visas from 1 January 2010. Once the proposal is approved, citizens of the three countries will in future only need a valid biometric passport to enter the Schengen countries, which include all EU members except the UK and Ireland, as well as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Granting visa free travel is a cornerstone of the EU's integration policy for the Western Balkans. Facilitating people to people contacts enhances business opportunities and gives the possibility for the people of the region to get to know the EU better.

President Barroso welcomes the signature of the Nabucco intergovernmental agreement

13/07/2009

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed the signature of the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement to which they attended in Ankara, Turkey on 13 July. It sets out the terms and conditions under which gas can be exported, via Turkey, from the Caspian Sea and the Middle East into the European Union. Potentially, Nabucco can supply up to 5-10% of European gas demand and will provide immediate tangible security of supply to countries that are currently 100% reliant on one external supply route.

Aid Programme for Turkish Cypriot community helps prepare for reunification

10/07/2009

On 8 July the Commission approved the annual report for 2008 on the implementation of the aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. The aid programme aims to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island, on improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU, and on preparation for the EU's legal order. €259 million is available to implement the programme over the period 2006-2011.

Adoption of Recommendations on Visa Free Travel for Western Balkans

08/07/2009

On 15 July, the European Commission will adopt a series of recommendations within a proposal for granting visa liberalisation to the Western Balkan countries. The submission of the proposal to EU Member States aims at enabling the citizens to travel without visas to the countries of the Schengen Area and confirms the European Commission's long-standing commitment to visa-free travel. Citizens of those countries benefiting of the visa-free regime will no longer have to go through the often time-consuming procedures that a visa application entails. Easier travelling to the EU can greatly contribute to the process of Balkan countries integration in the European Union.

EU and Turkey opened one new chapter in the accession negotiations

01/07/2009

The accession negotiations between the European Union and Turkey have moved on to include the area of taxation. The new "chapter" of the negotiations was opened during the seventh meeting of the accession conference between Turkey and the EU held on 30 June in Brussels.

Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the Albanian elections

30/06/2009

I take note of the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary conclusions stating that tangible progress has been made in some areas. However, these improvements were overshadowed by the politicization of technical aspects of the election process as well by violence during the election campaign. The Election Day was overall calm and peaceful. There were also slight improvements concerning the voting process although some procedural violations were observed. more>>

400 cyclists from all over Europe celebrate with citizens of Belgrade the end of the Danube by bike tour

29/06/2009

Danube by Bike Tour closing event in Belgrade: 400 cyclists from all over Europe celebrate with citizens of Belgrade on the banks of the Danube. The event marked the end and highlight of a 5-day trip along the Danube for participants from 25 European countries. The tour was organised and sponsored by the European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement in cooperation with the European Cyclist Federation and was open to anyone who likes cycling, cares about the environment and wants to make new friends throughout Europe. Visit the photo gallery of the tour http://www.danubebybike.eu/

Launch of the IPA 2007 cross-border programme with Albania

17/06/2009

On 2 June 2009, the IPA 2007 Cross-border Programme with the Republic of Albania was officially launched in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at the press conference with Erwan Fouéré, the Head of the EC Delegation and the Minister of Local Self-Government Musa Xhaferri. The programme between the two countries will promote sustainable development in the border area. The joint actions and supported projects will have an impact on the social and economic situation of the population, improve the joint management and promotion of human, natural and cultural resources and strengthen the image and the cohesion of the area.

The EU to invest Є1.5 million in new Police Training Facilities in Montenegro

12/06/2009

The Delegation of the European Commission to Montenegro and the Police Academy in Montenegro have signed a €2.9 million construction contract to build a new police training centre in Danilovgrad. With the construction of the training facility, the EU is helping the Police Academy increase their capacity to train Montenegrin police officers in practical skills similar to those of their counterparts in other EU countries. The Commission will contribute to the project with €1.5 million and the Academy with the remaining €1.4 million.

Fly Up To Europe, Song Of Hope

08/06/2009

As part of the Europe Week and Europe Day celebrations on 9 May, the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia issued a music CD "Fly Up to Europe, Song of Hope". The CD contains 12 songs, sang by various Croatian singers together with children. The songs discuss themes such as the fundamental human values, the importance of saving the environment and of educating children and young people and bringing them closer together. The songs from the CD are also available for download on the webpage of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia.

"Enlarge your vision" - 2009 European Young Journalists Award is closed

04/06/2009

DG Enlargement closed  the 2009 edition of the European Young Journalist award on 31 May, its pan-European competition for young journalists, which attracted some 600 submissions from both print and radio journalists all over Europe. Following the success of last year’s competition, the European Commission is offering the opportunity to even more young journalists to showcase their talent and even introduced a new category, "radio"in addition to printed press. The 2009 competition attracted notably participants from Albania, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Serbia and Spain. 35 national winners will now be selected by juries at national level and invited end of August-beginning of September 2009 to Berlin, the capital of Germany that this year celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall for a cultural and historial trip.

The second European Street Football Festival is celebrating passion, fun and fair play on the streets of Foča

20/05/2009

From 20 to 24 May 2009, the second European Street Football Festival in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina will again bring together 24 teams each consistingof eight young, amateur street footballers, representing organisations that work in the field of social development through football. Each team will present an equal number of girls and boys aged between 14 and 18. The festival is organised by "streetfootballworld" and its network member Football Friends together with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Enlargement. “The Foča 09 festival is an excellent occasion to bring together young people from EU member states, candidate and potential candidates, to play peacefully and to have fun together.”, noted Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.

EU helps the modernisation of roads in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

08/05/2009

Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, EU Special Representative and Head of EC Delegation and Mr Vladimir Talevski, Mayor of Bitola officially inaugurated the modernised M5 transit road in Bitola on 6 May 2009. The EU supported the revitalisation of the road with a total amount of € 738,000 under the Cross-Border Cooperation Neighbourhood Programme (CARDS 2004) with Greece, with an objective to ease the traffic on the transit road en route to Greece. This road is of special importance in the border area since it is the only mode of communication, in absence of railways. The road is now operational and improves significantly the absorption of traffic and its safety in the cross border area.

EU invests €410 000 in the Albanian District Court renovation

06/05/2009

The Head of the European Commission Delegation to Tirana, Ambassador Helmuth Lohan inaugurated the newly renovated and refurnished Saranda District Court on 21 April 2009. The renovation of the Court, as well as the previously completed projects, follows the “Masterplan for Judicial Infrastructure”, which provides a complete overview of the situation of the courts in Albania and makes recommendations for investments in the sector over the next 15 years. In the framework of assistance for Albania's judiciary reform, the European Commission continues to finance a series of interventions, in judiciary infrastructure, capacity building and training.

Statement by Director General for Enlargement Michel Leigh on Albania's application for EU Membership

28/04/2009

"The Commission welcomes the application for EU membership presented by the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr Sali Berisha to the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek . Today, Albania has reached a historical milestone marking the country's important engagement to common European values and fundamentals.   It is for the Council to decide on the way ahead. The Commission stands ready to prepare an 'Opinion' about Albania's application, should the Council invite us to do so.   Read the entire statement

Montenegro's application for membership: Commission invited to submit Opinion

23/04/2009

Following Montenegro's application for membership submitted on 15 December 2008, the Council invited the European Commission to submit its Opinion on the application, as foreseen by Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union. The Commission's Opinion will be submitted to the Council in the course of 2010.
The Opinion is a comprehensive analysis of a country's capacity to meet the criteria for membership of the European Union. On the basis of the Opinion the Council will decide whether and when to proceed to the next stages of the accession process.

The EU and Turkey train 10,000 women entrepreneurs

17/04/2009

The European Union and Turkey have concluded a €4.5 million project, training over 10,000 women to set up their own businesses. Women’s Entrepreneurship Support (WES) Project, funded by the European Commission and implemented by the Turkish Union of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) and the Unions of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (ESOBs) in 25 Turkish provinces, promoted women’s entrepreneurship by providing 6,291 women with training and 2,755 women with consultancy services.

Commissioner Rehn's statement on the second round of the Presidential Elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

07/04/2009

Following the completion of the presidential and municipal elections on 5 April, Commissioner Rehn expressed his hope that with the fresh mandate for the leadership of the country, renewed efforts will be made to step up reform efforts.Read the entire statement

EU - Albania: Stabilisation and Association Agreement enters into force

01/04/2009

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Albania signed in June 2006 entered into force on 1 April 2009, taking the country another step forward on the road to European integration. The Agreement commits the parties to further work on political, economic and institutional stabilisation of the country, institution building and public administration reform, enhanced trade and economic co-operation, legal approximation with the Community acquis and strengthened co-operation on justice and home affairs. The full implementation of the Agreement will also create a new climate for the development of trade and investment which are crucial factors for the economic restructuring and the modernisation of the country.

Hungary-Croatia cross-border co-operation programme approved

30/03/2009

The European Commission approved on 13 March a cross-border co-operation programme between Hungary and Croatia for 2007-2013. During the first three years of the programme, in 2007-2009, Community funding under the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) totals to €19.3 million. It is supplemented by some €5 million of national funding from the two participating countries. More than half of the funding will be devoted to sustainable environment and tourism, and one fourth will be spent on the development of co-operative economy and cross-community human resources.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the elections in Montenegro

30/03/2009

I welcome the peaceful and orderly conduct of yesterday's parliamentary elections in Montenegro , as confirmed by the election observation mission of OSCE-ODIHR.While there have not been any major   problems in the conduct of the elections, I expect Montenegro to address all pending issues including legal   inconsistencies in the legislative framework for the elections in line with the recommendations of OSCE-ODIHR. The Commission takes note of the preliminary election results which show the victory of the Coalition for a European Montenegro and expects that a new government will be swiftly formed.[...]" Read the entire statement 

Commissioner Olli Rehn on the first round of the Presidential and local elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

24/03/2009

"I am encouraged by the statements of the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission that the overall conduct of the elections is satisfactory so far and it met most international standards. During the past months the EU has insisted on the importance of these elections for the country's European future. I followed the conduct of the first round of the elections yesterday very closely and I see that our message has been understood. The citizens of the country wisely used the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and casted their ballot.[...]" Read the entire statement

EU assists Kosovo transport sector development

23/03/2009

An EU funded project organised a workshop in Pristina on 12 March 2009 to discuss progress in improvement and development of Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) transport infrastructure and services. The project, which has run for two years and is now approaching its end, has supported the preparation of a comprehensive strategy and policy for the development of the transport sector in Kosovo up to 2025, including action plans for road infrastructure and transport, urban transport, and railways.

EU invests €1.5 million in the Albanian State Police Academy

19/03/2009

The construction and renovation works of the Albanian State Police Academy, enabled through a Community funded project of €1.5 million, started on 11 March 2009. The works, which are to continue until January 2010, aim at improving the operational conditions of the Albanian State Police by creating a police academy complex that corresponds to European and international standards. Improving the physical working conditions is expected to raise effectiveness in other areas, such as training, and thus positively affect the overall performance of the Albanian State Police.

Brochure "Choose Your Own Doctor" promoted in Serbia

16/03/2009

Serbian citizens will soon receive by mail a brochure on the importance and the right to choose their own doctor in primary health care. Some three million copies of the aptly named brochure "Choose Your Own Doctor", produced under a project financed by the European Union, will be distributed in Serbia with the aim of better informing citizens about the advantages of choosing their doctor. The European Union invested € 5 million in the project.

Academy for the Training of Judges and Prosecutors in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia created and functional

04/03/2009

The project "Technical Assistance to Support the Creation of a Training Institute for the Judiciary" in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia came to its closure with a final event on 20 February. The overall objective of the project, which started in June 2006 and ran for a period of 32 months, was to strengthen the independence and efficiency of the judicial system. Decisive support was provided to the setting up of the Academy as an institution which provides not only continuous training for judges and prosecutors in office, but also initial training for future judges and prosecutors. The project was funded under the CARDS 2004 and totalled to € 1,099,620.

Process of re-appointment of Kosovo judges and prosecutors launched

18/02/2009

The re-appointment process of Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) judges and prosecutors was launched on 13 February by the Independent Judicial and Prosecutorial Commission (IJPC). The IJPC will initially consist of five international members and conduct a comprehensive review of all applicants for permanent appointments as judges and prosecutors in Kosovo. The €5,8m project is jointly funded by the European Commission (€5m) and the US government (€775,458).

Generating solutions for issues relating to ownership in Albania

13/02/2009

Government bodies, donor agencies and international property experts gathered in Tirana on 5 February to an EU sponsored seminar aimed at generating solutions for the main issues relating to ownership in the Albanian legal system, namely property registration, restitution and compensation, and legalisation. Referring to the significance of the issue of property rights for Albania, the Head of the European Commission's Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Helmuth Lohan noted that "…Clear property titles and legal security are essential prerequisites for a prosperous development of the country, the attraction of foreign direct investment, social peace as well as for the country's European integration process."

The EU finances activities for destruction of unstable ammunition in Bosnia and Herzegovina

10/02/2009

The destruction of unstable ammunition in Bosnia and Herzegovina has begun with an official ceremony held in the town of Vitez on 4 February. This action forms part of the EU funded Small Arms Control Project implemented by UNDP and supported by the Government of Sweden. The project aims at reducing risks of uncontrolled presence of small arms and light weapons, which represent a threat to security of the people in the country. The EU supports the project with a total of 2.72 million €. The Government of Sweden finances the work with 160.000 € and the UNDP puts forward close to 325.000 €.

EU assistance to Serbian health care system

30/01/2009

A new Masters programme in health care management, funded with 5 million € under the European Union project "Training in Health Care Management", will start in Serbia on 6 March 2009. The aim of this programme is to enable future managers to manage reforms and restructuring of the health care system. “I am very pleased that the European Union will continue to help Serbian health care system through this project” said Pierre Dybman, Head of Operations, Sector 1, of the EC Delegation to Serbia. The programme has been developed in cooperation with medical schools of the universities in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac, the Faculty of Organisational Sciences in Belgrade and the Ministry of Health of Serbia.

The EU supports higher standards of journalism in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99)

26/01/2009

The EU-funded project supporting the Kosovo Media Institute (KMI) launched a nine-week diploma course designed to help beginner journalists enhance their skills in topics such as radio and television, photography and camera, journalistic writing, as well as in subjects such as economy and media legislation. After the training, the journalists will have the possibility to do internships in Kosovo media. The EU project supporting the Kosovo Media Institute since May 2007, aims at raising the editorial standards of Kosovo media. The second phase of the project will start in July 2009.

"The process of negotiations is steadily moving forward"

20/01/2009

Commission President Barroso met with the turkish PM Erdogan and his delegation yesterday. During their talks, President Barroso assured the Prime Minister of the Commission's full commitment to the preparations for Turkey's accession and welcomed the recent progress made in the accession negotiation with the opening of two more chapters in December: "This proves that the process of negotiations is steadily moving forward. The main engines of the accession process remain political and technical reforms. I encourage Turkey to revitalise the reforms to increase fundamental freedoms and to modernise the country."

Beytahtı Drinking Water Project in Turkey

15/01/2009

The aim of the EU-funded Beytahtı drinking water project, which takes its name from the water network that supplies water to most parts of the Erzincan Municipality, is to provide healthy water with minimal administrative costs to the people living in the area. The project led to the construction of a new drinking water network line, which will be resistant to potential earthquakes taking place in the region and be sufficient for the population until 2037. The network is expected to produce healthy drinking water for a total of 250,000 inhabitants.

With the completion by 2025 of the EU-funded Cansuyu Project, which will be initiated this year, Erzincan should not face water problems in the next 50 years.

The European Commission invests an additional € 60 million in Kosovo

14/01/2009

The European Commission has adopted the second part of the IPA 2008 annual programme for Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99), which reflects the key priorities of the European Partnership and primarily aims at addressing important infrastructure needs in Kosovo. The 2008 programme for Kosovo is the first deliverable of the €508 million pledge made by the European Commission at the Donors' Conference for Kosovo in July 2008.

European Commission adopts the National Programme for Albania

12/01/2009

The European Commission adopted the National Programme for Albania under the IPA-Transition Assistance and Institution Building component in 2008. Under this programme, the European Community will provide Albania financial assistance up to € 60.917 million euros to support its progress in key issues, such as public administration reform and rule of law enforcement, in particular as regards good governance and anti-corruption measures.. The Community contribution represents 90.69% of the total budget (ca. € 67.2 million) allocated to this programme. Other donors and Albania itself will provide co-financing for 9 out of 24 projects.

EU helping to build asylum system in Serbia

08/01/2009

The Serbian Government formally took over control of the Asylum Centre in Banja Koviljaca from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In the period 2006-2008, the European Union donated EUR 650,000 that were used to resolve asylum-related issues in Serbia as well as to educate and prepare various public agencies and civil servants to take over the competencies in this field from international organisations. The EU funds for the renovation and refurbishment of this Centre totalled EUR 225,000. The centre can accommodate a total of 88 persons. Currently, it houses 49 asylum seekers.