Balkan hopefuls meet EU leaders in Sarajevo

[pampango]

Source: BBC

The prospect of Western Balkan countries one day becoming EU members is the focus of talks opening in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

Of the former Yugoslav republics only Slovenia has joined the EU. Its southern neighbours are at various stages in the accession process.

Serbia has been told it must locate the remaining fugitives from the Bosnian war of the 1990s before it can join the EU. Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic tops the list.


The EU's foreign policy chief (right)
sees Balkan stability as vital to the EU

Political analyst Tija Memisevic says integrating the Western Balkans is crucial for the EU. "We saw it in the 90s, it can repeat again, of course not in the same way as in the 90s, but to have failed states on its borders - I don't think it's a very good idea."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10213031.stm