BRUSSELS/ZAGREB, Dec 3 (Hina) - The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday proposed launching preparations for the participation of countries of the "Western Balkans" (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and
Serbia-Montenegro) in EU programmes and agencies, the EC said in a statement issued in Brussels.
BRUSSELS/ZAGREB, Dec 3 (Hina) - The European Commission (EC) on
Wednesday proposed launching preparations for the participation of
countries of the "Western Balkans" (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia-Montenegro) in EU programmes and
agencies, the EC said in a statement issued in Brussels. #L#
According to the EC, the countries should join in the programmes in
2005, which would mark the start of implementation of a resolution
adopted at an EU summit in Thessaloniki in July this year.
Participation in EU programmes and agencies will enable the
countries and their citizens to make significant progress towards
the EU, EU foreign affairs commissioner Chris Patten said. The
decision is aimed at acquainting Western Balkan countries with the
EU's policy and working methods, the EC said in the statement.
Of the five countries covered by the process, only Croatia has
applied for membership in the EU and it hopes to join the EU in 2007,
together with Bulgaria and Romania.
(hina) rml sb