Former official says EU hasn’t forgotten Western Balkans

  Former Western Balkans Director Reinhard Priebe said that he expected the region to advance much faster towards the European Union in the early 2000s, adding that now none of the EU member states want to say explicitly that Serbia and Montenegro could become member states in 2025.  

Speaking about Belgrade-Pristina relations he expressed the belief that there will be no security challenges because instability is not in the interest of any of the countries of the region. “A solution, whatever it is, should be in the common interest,” Priebe said.  

The former European Commission official said that the fact that five EU member states have not recognized Kosovo is a problem because Kosovo can advance only so far in the European integration process without unanimity in the Union.