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| Sunday, 22 June 2003 |
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Western Balkan leaders eye closer ties at EU summit PORTO CARRAS, Greece, Saturday (Reuters) European Union leaders welcomed western Balkan countries on Saturday to talks on forging closer economic and political ties. The five western Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro - are all keen to join the wealthy bloc, but face a hard slog as they reform their economies and try to cement democracy and the rule of law. "The speed of movement ahead lies in the hands of the countries of the region," the EU and the five states said in a draft summit declaration obtained by Reuters. The draft identified organised crime and corruption as major obstacles for the region, Europe's poorest which is still recovering from a decade of ethnic strife in ex-Yugoslavia. But the 15-nation EU, which is set to take in 10 new members mostly from ex-communist eastern Europe next year, also stressed that all five Western Balkan countries should join eventually. |
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