The EU must keep its promise to the Western Balkans

Enlargement has been one of the EU's most successful policies. In the case of the Central and East European countries, the wish to join the Union has helped to foster stability, democratisation and economic reform. The Western Balkans emerged from terrible wars only a decade ago and has since seen bouts of instability and bloodshed. The region's countries need the 'EU anchor' even more than states such as Poland or Hungary did during their transition. Already, the EU has played a positive role in the Balkans.