The decision is to be formally confirmed by EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. Negotiations on the SAA are scheduled to start in the first half of next month.
Five Southeast European countries are included in the Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Albania. So far only Croatia and Macedonia have signed the SAA. Macedonia expects the European Commission's avis and the confirmation of the candidate status this summer and Croatia is waiting to launch negotiations on the EU full membership.