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On 14 October, the European Commission presented its annual package of documents on the European Union enlargement. It contains the EU Enlargement Strategy, regular progress reports on Croatia, Turkey and countries in the Western Balkans - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, as well as a Communication on Kosovo’s European perspective.

“It has been 5 years since Lithuania joined the EU and now we can bravely say that the EU enlargement has proved to have been beneficial,” Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas said commenting on the documents of the European Commission.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the countries in achieving their EU membership goals, regardless of all the political and economic challenges.

“Iceland’s EU membership application has given a fresh impetus to the EU enlargement process,” Minister V.Ušackas highlighted.

Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his approval of the European Commission’s recommendations to open the accession negotiations with Macedonia, to finish EU membership talks with Croatia in 2010 (in case all requirements are met) and to facilitate the EU visa regime for the Balkan countries.

In its documents the Commission also emphasizes the importance of Turkey’s reform effort and Turkey’s role to guarantee energy security in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, it also encourages to normalize the relations with the Republic of Cyprus. The European Commission proposed a visa-free regime for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia from the beginning of 2010. The countries of the Western Balkans still have to pay a lot of effort in order to meet the requirements and criteria. Guaranteeing the rule of law and enhancing administrative capacities still remains a key challenge.

For more information about the European Commission’s documents please visit here