Appeal for the Balkans

FT.com / Europe - EU asked not to abandon Balkans enlargement

The Financial Times today is today reporting on the open letter that former Italian PM Amata, former Belgian PM Dehane, former German President von Weizsäcker and myself are sending to the forthcoming European summit in Brussels.

We urge them not to close down that beacon on enlargement that the states in transition in the Balkans are sailing by. If the light of this beacon starts to fade, or is closed down altogether, there is a serious risk that they will sail aground, and that perhaps even their entire effort at reform, reconciliation and reintegration will sink.

If this happens, all of Europe would suffer the consequences.

That's why we urge the heads of state and government meeting in Brussels to send a strong signal that the door is still open and the road to membership in the European Union still there.