Brussels this week unveiled its annual progress report on the nine nations lined up to join the European Union. Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle argued that the process remains important in maintaining peace and stability in Europe, but added that the Commission is now adopting a more rigorous approach, based on the lessons from previous accessions – a veiled reference to the controversy over whether Romania and Bulgaria were really ready when they joined in 2007.
It was good news for Montenegro, as the Commission recommended moving its status up one notch from potential to official candidate. But for Turkey, which applied to join back in 1987, it warned that the process is “losing credibility” and blamed the conflict over Cyprus as a major sticking point.
Citizens of two more aspiring countries, Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina, finally achieved their objective of visa-free travel to most of Europe – a right enjoyed by other Western Balkan countries since 2009 – but with tight monitoring and a warning that restrictions could be re-imposed. European ministers agreed the move unanimously, but only after France and the Netherlands won extra safeguards. Earlier this year, Sweden, Belgium and Germany found themselves dealing with large numbers of economic migrants from Serbia and Macedonia claiming asylum.
Despite the newly toughened framework, Albanians were overjoyed by the decision. In the capital Tirana signposts indicated the visa-free mileage to different EU capitals and in Brussels resident Albanians greeted it as the most important event since the end of communism in 1991. “It’s been a long, hard wait”, said Gjovalin Kola, a writer. “This is a concrete sign of liberty – now everyone will be free to travel.”
Britain has been supportive of enlargement but since, like Ireland, it is outside the Schengen passport-free zone, Western Balkan citizens will still have to apply for visas to travel to the United Kingdom.
