European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned today that there is a risk of new military conflicts in the Balkans if the countries of the region remain without European prospects.
"If such an intricate European region gives an impression that we are not serious about the European perspective, we will soon experience what we had in the Balkans during the 1990s," Juncker said in a speech titled "For Europe as an actor of foreign policy " presented to the Austrian Parliament.He stressed that the history of the 1990s has not yet been overtaken in the Balkans.
"The history of the 1990s was made possible because decades and centuries ago were not addressed," he said.
He nevertheless stressed that the path of the Western Balkan countries towards full EU membership is still long. According to him, progress can be seen, but it does not suffice.
Juncker proposed that the Western Balkan countries be offered a kind of economic zone in which they could partially act in how they would become when they became full members.
"Full membership is not expected before 2025," Juncker said. He underlined that the EU should work intensively with the region and assist it when needed, but also make it clear that any border dispute must be resolved before joining the EU.