EU to disappoint Balkan hopefuls (BBC)

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Friday, 3 November 2006, 15:28 GMT

EU to disappoint Balkan hopefuls
By Oana Lungescu
BBC News, Brussels

The European Commission will recommend next week that Western Balkans countries
postpone any moves towards joining the European Union.

Last year Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Albania's all edged closer towards
joining the EU.

But a draft Commission report to be published next week says the countries cannot
expect to join the EU in the short term, despite some progress.

-snip-

The countries are now marking time - not only because reforms have slowed down
at home, but also because people in Western Europe want enlargement to pause.

Reforms needed

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6113926.stm

[xchrom]

1. the eu needs to stop and

communicate more effectively with the people of already member nations -- i.e. holland and france.

i want to see the eu up and moving again -- but right now there is too much anxiety in the people -- and the government NEEDS to be responsive.