In a pre-election campain speech, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a few years break in the enlargement process after the accession of Croatia. Supported by others such as the Netherlands or Belgium, Germany is the first to take such on strong stand on the issue.
Are accession perspectives slipping further away from Western Balkans ?
Interview 1 - German MP Doris Pack, Chairwoman of the delegation for relations with the countries of South East Europe, declares that althought the enlargement process remains on the EU agenda, realistically, besides Croatia, the door will not be opened to any new member in the next 5 years.
Interview 2- Socialist MP Hannes Swoboda, Rapporteur for Croatia and Vice-Chairman of the delegation for relations with the countries of South East Europe, criticises the CDU position as a negative and discouraging signal to send to the governments in the Western Balkans.
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