PRODI POINTS TO INDIVIDUAL ACCESSION OF BALKAN COUNTRIES TO EU

ZAGREB/ATHENS, Jan 10 (Hina) - The European Commission President, Romano Prodi, on Friday said to all Balkan countries that one day they could become members of the European Union but he emphasised that accession for each individual country will depend on their own achievements. #L# Prodi made this statement in Athens following his meeting with Greek Premier Kostas Simitis whose country took over the six month chairing of the European Union on January 1 this year. It is necessary to do a lot of work but one day all Balkan countries could become members of the European Union, Prodi said. That does not mean that Balkan countries need to become members on the same day seeing that each will take its own path and will be assessed according to its own achievements, Prodi said. Responding to reporters' questions about the prospects of certain countries joining the EU, Premier Simitis said that it was clear that for example Croatia was a part of Europe...the EU hopes that all the Balkan countries will become candidates and this requires procedures that will continue over several years as was the case for other countries. EC President Prodi said there were huge social and economic differences between Balkan countries. We are aware of the enormous political differences but everything requires time, Prodi said. Ten countries, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe, concluded negotiations last month at an EU summit in Copenhagen to enter the Union and on April 16 they will officially sign agreements in Athens on accessing the EU. The expansion will not stop in Athens...we will send a clear message that the EU's doors are open and that the Balkans can access the Union later on, Prodi added. He also said that Turkey did not belong to the Balkans and that he could not give any more promises to that country than was offered at the EU Summit in Copenhagen in December last year. (hina) sp ms