Call for the Balkan nations to join EU fuels border debate

Balkan countries, including Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina, should ultimately join the EU, the European Commission said yesterday, fuelling the debate over Europe's borders.

Not content with planning an expansion to bring 10 countries into the EU next year, and a further two nations as soon as 2007, the European Commission's report has now put five more Balkan countries on course for membership.

Yesterday's document will stir the growing debate about the outward limits of the EU, amid continuing controversy over Turkey's bid for membership. Some fear that, if the pledge to the Balkan countries is followed through, the EU will undergo an almost continuous process of expansion.

The Commission report says there is a need for the western Balkans to have "an even closer relationship with the EU and ultimately membership".

Chris Patten, the European Commissioner for external relations, said the timescale depends on the reforms in the countries. "Our resolve cannot substitute for the determination of these states themselves," he said.

His declaration comes amid mounting fears over the impact of next year's enlargement on the EU's unity, which have been heightened by the public split over policy towards Iraq.

But EU officials argue that the lure of membership has been vital in stabilising the Balkans. Only a willingness to keep open the possibility of EU status will give the Balkan countries the incentive to continue reform. "They have to know that they belong to a family and one day they will be full members,"one EU diplomat said.

The document covers five very different countries, with Croatia the leading candidate for early membership. It has already applied, in the hope of becoming a member in the first wave of enlargement after the 10 countries next year. The European Commission will begin a formal assessment of its chances soon.

Bulgaria and Romania are hoping to become members in 2007, although many officials believe that date will slip. Macedonia is next in line and is expected to lodge its application for membership by the end of the year. However, it still relies on outside troops to guarantee security.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has made "important advances" under the stewardship of the high representative, Lord Ashdown, although the document says it has yet to address the problem of over-dependence on aid.

The survey of Serbia and Montenegro produces a varied picture, with progress overshadowed by the murder earlier this month of the Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic.

The Commission says "limited progress has been made by Albania in addressing the many challenges it has to face".

Meanwhile, seven central and east European nations – Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia – signed the protocols of accession to Nato yesterday, opening the way for them to become full members next year.