Marta Kos: One or More Candidate Countries Could Reach EU by End of Commission’s Term

Marta Kos (BETAPHOTO/STA/Thierry Monasse)

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos assessed on Dec. 5 that the European Commission for the first time had a realistic approach, according to which one or more membership candidate countries could be “brought to the finish line” by the end of this European Commission’s term in office.

MIA agency reported from Brussels that she said this in her introductory address of the EU-Western Balkan Summit: Renewed Approach to Region” organized by the Brussels-based researched center called Friends of Europe.

The new European enlargement commissioner stated that she would do everything for bilateral disputes from the past no longer standing in the way of, as she said, the common goal – the Western Balkan countries’ approaching the European Union. “My dream is for all Western Balkan countries to be in the EU and that we see the removal of borders and bilateral tension, as it has been the case in many part of the continent,” Kos said, adding that the removal of physical barriers of separation, many historical tensions would be put aside.

According to Kos, peace, freedom and prosperity nowadays depend greatly on a stronger and more united Europe. She pointed out that, during the meetings with the Western Balkan leaders over the past few days, she told them that they could count on her as a member of the teams which would work on their approaching the EU.