Italy proposes plan to speed up Western Balkans' EU, NATO integration

06/04/2009

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- During an EU summit Sunday (April 5th), Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini proposed an eight-point plan aimed at speeding up the NATO and EU integration of the Western Balkans. The plan envisions visa liberalisation as one of the priorities for Serbia and Macedonia. The European Commission (EC) is to prepare a report on the issue by the end of May, with findings to take effect by the end of the year.

Italy also urges progress in the name dispute talks between Greece and Macedonia, which would unblock Skopje's EU membership negotiations and would allow it to join NATO. The document suggests that the EC should begin preparing for technical reports on the EU membership applications of Montenegro, Albania and Serbia.

Italy wants to see Croatia complete its EU talks by 2010 in accordance with its EC road map. As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rome wants to see more authority for the EU high representative by the end of July. The plan also envisions enforcement -- by the end of June -- of the temporary agreement between the EU and Serbia, urging Belgrade to fully co-operate with The Hague war crimes tribunal. Regarding Kosovo, Italy stresses the importance of economic support for the young country. The last point in the plan envisions holding an EU-Western Balkans summit in the first half of 2010. (Alfa TV, MIA - 05/04/09)