• Commissioner Olli Rehn on the events in Belgrade on 21 February 2008
  I strongly condemn the attacks perpetrated yesterday against foreign Embassies and economic assets in Belgrade which caused important material damage and put human life in danger. We respect the democratic right of the Serbian people to voice their opinion on developments in Kosovo, but the use of violence for expressing one's opinion is unacceptable. I call on the Serbian authorities to ensure the proper protection of diplomatic missions in the country. I appeal for calm in Serbia and in the wider region. We urge all Serbian politicians to call for restraint and avoid statements that could further inflame the situation."

• Commissioner Rehn welcomes the adoption of the new Turkish law on Foundations
  (22 February 2008) Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has called the adoption by the Turkish Parliament of the new law on Foundations, a welcome step forward. Commissioner Rehn noted that the adoption is an important issue for Turkey, and one that all EU institutions have regularly highlighted as important to ensure fundamental rights and freedoms for all Turkish citizens, and added: "We need to study the official text, but previous drafts and parliamentary debates indicate that the law addresses a number of issues crucial for the functioning of religious foundations. Implementation of this law should be in accordance with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. It is implementation that will be the test of Turkey's progress in ensuring rights and freedoms."

• EU to invest € 440 million in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007-2011
  (20 February 2008) The agreement on the basis of which the EU will continue to provide financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina has been signed in Sarajevo. According to the framework the European Commission has allocated € 440 million of support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its transition from a potential candidate to a candidate country for the period 2007-2011 under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). Further information is available on the website of the delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Olli Rehn welcomes European unity and balanced conclusions on Kosovo(18 February 2008) The conclusions of the Council of ministers are an expression of European unity and they demonstrate that the European Union is both ready and able to steer the process of stabilisation in the Western Balkans, noted Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in a press conference in Brussels referring to the EU reaction to the latest developments in Kosovo. Earlier, today, the EU External Relations Council took note of the Kosovo Assembly resolution which declared Kosovo to be independent and noted that Member States will decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo. The Council recalled the European Union's longstanding commitment to the stability of the Western Balkans region and reaffirmed its commitment to fully and effectively support the European perspective for the Western Balkans.

• Turkey joins EU competitiveness programme
  (12 February 2008) Turkey has become the third candidate country, after Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, to join the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) under which the European Commission promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises. European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen and Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the EU, Volkan Bozkir, signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising the Republic's entry to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation pillar of CIP. Turkey participated already actively in innovation related activities under the "Research and innovation" programme of the sixth Framework Programme. These have been extended and further developed under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).

• EU's invitation to Serbia remains on the table, Olli Rehn says in Brussels press conference
  (6 February 2008) The EU is committed to accelerate Serbia's European course and contribute to better citizens' rights and better living standards for the Serbian people, despite political and procedural obstacles in Serbia to sign an interim Political Agreement with the EU, Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, told journalists in Brussels. The Commissioner regretted that the signature of the Political Agreement between the EU and Serbia, planned for 7 February, had to be postponed. Olli Rehn noted that certain politicians in Belgrade blocked the signature and added that they have failed to hear the voice of the Serbian people who voted last Sunday in favour of Serbia's European future, better lives and better citizens' rights. The statement and the press conference that followed are available here and also in mp3 format on the EbS page.

• The European Commission launches a dialogue with Serbia on visa free travel
  (18 January 2008) Vice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security announced today that the European Commission launches a dialogue with Serbia on visa free travel. The first meeting at technical level will take place in Belgrade on 30th January 2008.

  • full text of the statement
  • EBS, midday briefing on 18 January 2007

• European Year of Intercultural Dialogue launched
  (8 January 2008) The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 is being launched in Ljubljana following a conference titled "Intercultural Dialogue as the Fundamental Value of the EU". The events in Slovenia, currently holding the EU-presidency, kick off a multitude of activities across Europe, and throughout the year, which will emphasise interaction of cultures, deepening of relations between nationalities and religions, and promoting through dialogue a strengthening of understanding, tolerance, solidarity and a sense of common destiny among EU citizens from all walks of life. More information

• Lisbon treaty takes Europe into 21st century
  (13 December 2007) Marking an important step in European integration, the political leaders of the 27 Member States signed on December 13 the Treaty of Lisbon providing the European Union with a new framework to respond to the challenges of the 21st century. Once ratified, the Treaty will provide the EU with modern institutions and better working methods to tackle new challenges in a rapidly changing world. The Treaty of Lisbon will reinforce democracy in the EU and its capacity to promote the interests of its citizens on a day-to-day basis. The text of the Treaty in 23 languages and other useful information is now available on http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/

• European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina initial Stabilisation and Association agreement
  (4 December 2007) The EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina initialled on 4 December a key agreement which will foresee mutual rights and obligations and the framework for the reforms Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to implement with the aim of moving closer to the EU. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn initialled the Stabilisation and Association Agreement alongside Prime Minister Nikola Spiric, at a ceremony in Sarajevo. In his statement, Olli Rehn encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders to build on the positive momentum and take the next steps to deliver on the EU integration agenda. Further information, a press release and pictures are available at the website of the delegation of the European Commission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the elections in Croatia , Brussels, 26 November 2007
  "I welcome that once again the elections in Croatia were conducted in an orderly manner and in accordance with international standards, as reported by the preliminary assessment of the observation mission of the OSCE/ODIHR. I am sure that the elected politicians will work smoothly for the rapid formation of the new government. We welcome the broad consensus on the process of accession to the European Union which exists among all the main political actors. I trust the future government will strive for EU membership and work on fulfilling the necessary criteria in order to meet the ambitious targets which Croatia has set for itself. For our part, the Commission will continue to be fully engaged in supporting these efforts. "

• Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the elections in Kosovo, 18 November 2007 Brussels
  "I welcome that the elections in Kosovo were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner and largely in accordance with international standards, as reported by the preliminary assessment of the observation mission of the Council of Europe. I congratulate those responsible for the organisation of the elections for this result. I regret that Kosovo Serbs have boycotted the elections and I call on them to take a constructive role in Kosovo's future. I now call on the elected politicians to work smoothly for the rapid formation of the new government. We urge the democratically elected authorities to work constructively for a sustainable status settlement as well as to facilitate progress on European integration."

• Writing about EU Enlargement - Commission launches competition for young journalists from Europe
  (15 November 2007) Journalists aged 17-27 from EU member states, the Western Balkans and Turkey can take part in the new competition launched today by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Youth Press association. The journalists are invited to submit to the competition a recently published article on EU enlargement (publication date between January 2007 and 15 March 2008). The winners, selected by national juries made up of media representatives, will have their articles also published on the competition website and will be invited on a joint trip through Balkan countries.
  Further information is available at the special website www.EUjournalist-award.eu.

• European Union and Serbia initial Stabilisation and Association agreement
  (7 November 2007) The EU and Serbia initialled on 7 November a key agreement which will foresee mutual rights and obligations and the framework for the reforms Serbia needs to implement with the aim of moving closer to the EU. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn initialled the Stabilisation and Association Agreement alongside Serbia's President Boris Tadic and its chief EU negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, at a ceremony in Brussels.

• EU Enlargement updated strategy and progress reports available on line
  (6 November 2007) The Commission's annual strategy document explaining its policy on EU enlargement has been adopted and become available on line. The document includes a summary of the progress made over the last twelve months by each candidate and potential candidate: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (under UN Security Council Resolution 1244). In addition, the 2007 progress reports were published, where the Commission services monitor and assess the achievements of each of the candidate and potential candidates over the last year. The so-called "enlargement package" contains also proposals to the Council for revised European and Accession partnerships for each country and the Multi-annual Financial Framework. Further information is available at the special page dedicated to the 2007 Enlargement "package"

• "Adapting to Enlargement of the European Union, Institutional Practice since May 2004" study by Professor Helen Wallace available on line
  (01 November 2007) A study showing that the EU’s institutional processes and practice have stood up rather robustly to the impact of enlargement to EU25 in May 2004, has become available on the website of the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TESPA). The study by Professor Helen Wallace, Special Advisor to Commissioner Olli Rehn, examines the effects of enlargement to the work and functioning of EU institutions. The full text , in English, is available at the TESPA website.

• New page on the Enlargement strategy and progress reports 2007, available now on-line
  (25 October 2007) A "citizen's summary" presenting the Commission's "Enlargement package", a new brochure illustrating the EU's Enlargement policy, brand new "images of change" from candidate and potential candidates, and important background documents on the means and the impact of the policy are included in the new page now available on this website. The new page has been launched as part of the preparation for the new "enlargement package" which will be published by the Commission on 6 November 2007. On that date the Enlargement strategy and progress reports 2007 will be added to the documents already available on-line.

• (13 July 2007) The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia each signed, in Brussels, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the European Commission that will give them the possibility to participate in the European Union's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). The signatory countries, as well as Turkey, which signed a similar memorandum on 1 June, will now be able to participate in all the FP7 calls for proposals, including those opened since the beginning of the year. The agreement offers researchers form these countries the same rights for participation as EU Member States in all the research cooperation and supported actions funded under FP7.

  Further information available at: http://www.delmkd.ec.europa.eu/en/index.htm

Press release

Press release

Press release