W.Balkans:Juncker warns to solve border disputes to join EU
European Commission President says 2025 is "indicative date"
06 February, 15:55"There can be no further accession for Western Balkans countries without bilateral border disputes having first been resolved", Juncker pointed out. He spoke right after a speech to the European Parliament by Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Croatia and Slovenia - both EU members - are stuck in a border dispute stemming from the breakup of former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Serbia and Montenegro, considered by Brussels as 'frontrunners' to join the Union, "may be able to join in 2025", the President of the EU Commission highlighted, but "we are not saying that the Western Balkans have to join by 2025". "This is an indicative date, a perspective to motivate countries to continue reforms and work hard to follow that path," Juncker added.(ANSA).