EU membership by 2025 achievable for Western Balkans

NEWS 10.07.201813:49
Tanjug/Dragan Kujundžič

The year 2025 is ambitious but an achievable date for the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union, Commissioner Johannes Hahn said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Chatham House event in London, the European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner said the date cause “actions and reactions” when the Strategy for the Western Balkans was published in February 2018, making the entire process more concrete.

He said he was hesitant at first but that he is glad that he was convinced that the date is a good idea, he said.

The commissioner warned that the countries of the Western Balkans would have to complete their pre-accession negotiations by 2023 to be able to become EU members in 2025.