EU Says Balkan Expansion Probable Soon
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BRUSSELS (BBC News) - The EU expects Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania to have signed initial deals paving the way for eventual entry into the bloc by the end of 2008, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Brussels on Tuesday. "I expect that in 2008 conditions will be fulfilled and thus we will be able to complete Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) with all countries in the region," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Brussels on Tuesday. He praised Serbia in particular for turning its back on its nationalist past by supporting the work of the UN's war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
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The European Commission was to invite Bulgaria and Romania to join the European Union in January, amid warnings the bloc must tackle institutional reforms before further expansion.
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The EU expects all western Balkan nations to sign initial deals, paving the way for eventual entry, by 2008.
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European Union leaders seeking to  reassure voters about plans to enlarge the bloc remained far  from united on Friday about the future shape of the union, set  to grow to 27 members when Bulgaria and Romania join on January  1.
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Senior European Union officials are visiting the Balkans to discuss progress towards EU accession.
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Prime ministers of Serbia and Croatia said on Monday that further enhancement of cooperation between their countries is of great importance to stability in southeast Europe.
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Croatia's government is hoping to secure a date for accession talks when European Union leaders huddle for their winter summit in Brussels next Thursday despite signs of growing Euroscepticism at home.
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European Union defence ministers began talks Thursday focused on the Balkans, amid hopes that a compromise will be found on Kosovo's future status and that Bosnia will remain calm.
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BELGRADE, Feb 12 (IPS) - Sweet talk on the joys of European Union (EU)  membership is quite a favourite among leaders of the Balkans,  particularly in their public appearances. But when it comes to  serious talk, the EU looks quite far.
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An EU commissioner issues a strongly-worded warning to Macedonia over its ambitions to join the EU.
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BRUSSELS, Belgium The European Union could one day stretch all the way to the border of Iraq. Diplomats say leaders of the EU have agreed to open talks with Turkey next year.
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The Austrian corporate investment in Romania may double by 2007, the year when the latter is scheduled to join the EU.
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European Union leaders seeking to reassure voters about plans to enlarge the bloc remained far from united on Friday about the future shape of the union, set to grow to 27 members when Bulgaria and Romania join ...Comment
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Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria all could be part of the European Union by 2007, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Sept.
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WIESBADEN, Germany  - The European Union has a duty to ensure stability in the Balkans a decade after the ethnic wars of the 1990s and offer its peoples the hope of EU membership, the bloc's foreign policy chief said on Thursday.
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G nter Verheugen, EU enlargement commissioner, said on Tuesday that Romania and Bulgaria would - oebe prepared for membership in 2007 - and added that talks would start next year with Croatia.
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The European Union official in charge of enlargement says the EU decision on membership talks with Turkey will take into account that country&#39;s progress in implementing reforms.