People in the Balkans need to feel the tangible benefits of EU accession Autumn 2010
by Audronius Azubalis <http://www.europesworld.org/NewEnglish/Home_old/PublicProfile/tabid/690/UserID/4050/language/en-US/Default.aspx> Description: http://www.europesworld.org/DesktopModules/ITOmni.ContentRating/images/star_norating.pngDescription: http://www.europesworld.org/DesktopModules/ITOmni.ContentRating/images/star_norating.pngDescription: http://www.europesworld.org/DesktopModules/ITOmni.ContentRating/images/star_norating.pngDescription: http://www.europesworld.org/DesktopModules/ITOmni.ContentRating/images/star_norating.pngDescription: http://www.europesworld.org/DesktopModules/ITOmni.ContentRating/images/star_norating.png I would suggest a three-point plan to prevent the Balkans enlargement process from turning sour. First, there should be tangible benefits so that people in the Balkans can really feel there are advantages from the EU accession process – after all, Macedonians, Serbs and Montenegrins can already travel to the EU without visas. More intensive people-to-people contact, including an increase in “Erasmus” scholarships would be one such benefit. Second, Balkan countries seeking EU membership need to take difficult decisions to sustain the reform progress. This would bolster public support that is presently weakening for further enlargement of the EU. Third, there should be greater trust in the EU’s commitment to enlargement. Sometimes I hear pessimistic views from the Balkans, but Lithuania heard the same arguments when we started the EU accession process back in 1995. It took nine years for us to reach our goal, but we got there in the end. I strongly believe therefore that 2010-2020 will become the decade of the Balkans. http://www.europesworld.org/NewEnglish/Home_old/Article/tabid/191/ArticleType/ArticleView/ArticleID/21731/language/en-US/PeopleintheBalkansneedtofeelthetangiblebenefitsofEUaccession.aspx
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