Western Balkans to join EU in not too distant future

BELGRADE - The future of Western Balkan countries is in the European Union and they will become members of the European family of nations in the not too distant future, said the participants of the international conference titled 'The European Union and the Western Balkans 2015-2020 - chances for partnership and mutual doubts', organised in Belgrade on Friday by the Public Policy Institute.

The conference has featured speeches by prominent European politicians and diplomats, rectors and representatives of the academic communities from leading universities in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Former president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso expressed confidence that, despite the enlargement fatigue, the process of EU enlargement will continue and that the Western Balkan countries will join the Union in the not too distant future.

He said that the current Serbian government and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic have a strong mandate and the capacity to lead the country towards the EU on an open path.

He also noted that he is proud that, as president of the European Commission, he proposed to the European Council that it open negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro.

Membership in the EU does not take away power and influence from countries, but increases them, he said.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the conference, Barroso said that he is confident that Serbia will join the EU, but declined to speculate on when that will happen, and noted that recognising Kosovo's independence is not a condition for membership.

He also noted that the level of cooperation between Belgrade and Moscow is not a topic related to Serbia's EU membership, but that accession is only tied...