ASSESSMENTS

EU: Rapidly Expanding Into the Balkans

Nov 17, 2009 | 17:36 GMT

AXEL SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Summary

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Nov. 16 that Serbia has completed the prerequisites to lift the restriction of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. Merkel's comments are a major step for Serbia — the SAA is the last step before Serbia's final application to the European Union. Additionally, EU foreign ministers supported Albania's request for official EU candidate status. The moves to support two Western Balkan countries reflect the European Union's efforts to limit growing Russian and Turkish influence in the region.

EU fears of increasing Turkish and Russian influence in the Western Balkans have prompted the bloc to move to extend accession to Serbia and Albania. (With STRATFOR map)...

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