Positive signals sent to Balkans on EU membership

Mr Korteweg says that Croatia’s accession in July 2013 will be the last expansion for several years. "Each country suffers from political, judiciary or economic problems, warranting a more pessimistic outlook on swift EU membership." ...Having learned from the process of negotiating membership with Romania and Bulgaria – which many in the EU see as having been granted accession too early – and more recently Croatia, Brussels may start by opening negotiations on some of the more difficult chapters first. In particular, they will emphasise chapters dealing with corruption, organised crime, role of the police, migration, and border control, says Rem Korteweg, of the CER.