Balkan leaders lobby for EU ties

21/03/2005 - 15:21:13
Leaders from Bosnia and Serbia today lobbied the European Union to open its doors to them, days after the EU put Croatia’s membership bid on ice because it needs to do more to catch a key war crimes suspect.

Bosnia and Serbia have also seen their efforts for closer relations dogged by demands they do more to bring to justice military officers accused of atrocities during the wars that tore Yugoslavia apart in the 1990s.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Bosnia’s Prime Minister Adnan Terzic the country had made progress in co-operating with the international war crimes tribunal, but more was expected before the bloc opens negotiations on a “stability and association agreement” which would be a step toward EU membership.