| dc.description.abstract | ENLARGEMENT is and will continue to be one of the most important undertakings of the Union at the start of the 21st century. In 2004, the Union experienced its biggest ever enlargement with the accession of 10 new countries – Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, Slovak Republic and Slovenia. Following this, Bulgaria and Romania are expected to enter the Union in 2007 if they are ready.Accession negotiations started with Croatia and Turkey in 2005, while the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became a candidate for future membership of the European Union. For the Western Balkans as a whole, the priority for the EU remains the promotion of stability and peace in the region. With this in mind, relations intensified with the other countries of the Western Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo1. The European Commission continued its assistance to help reform, adapt and strengthen public institutions in order to facilitate the application of EU rules and procedures known as the acquis communautaire. Indeed, the need to bring assistance with real added value in this context has gained increasing importance. |
