McAllister: Balkans risks Russian influence, Albania on the right way

McAllister: Balkans risks Russian influence, Albania on the right way

 German MEP and CDU party of Germany, also the head of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister warns in "Die Welt" the growing Russian influence in the Balkans.

In an article of Monday tittled "The Balkans are a region of high risk," the newspaper "Die Welt" writes that if the European Union not enough problems with Brexit, populism, Trumpi and Turkey, now in front of the EU ports the tensions are rising. In many Balkan countries there are problems. At the same time Russia, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar strive to increase their influence in the region - a dangerous mix. 

The head of the Commission of the European Parliament ofr Foreign Policy, David McAllister (CDU) states that "The Balkans is a region with high risk, where in a short time an irresponsible act could reignite conflicts that we believed were overcome."

McAllister: Albania on track

EU seeks to counteract this risk by bringing a new atmosphere in the accession talks. Hope does not have just Serbia, writes "Die Welt", but also Albania. McAllister states that "according to the European Commission, Parliament and government, this country is on the right track. Albania's EU membership talks could be opened within the next 12 months, at least in 2018 ".

McAllister praised the deal of Tirana political parties on judicial reform. "This has been an important criterion for the start of negotiations. When negotiations begin, from at the beginning will be opened the issue of the rule of law," he said. Yet McAllister sees far away Albania's EU membership.

Serbia: Risk of Russian influence

While talking about Serbia, which opened in January 2014 EU accession talks, McAllister sees progress, but also problems. His concern is the Russian attempt to influence in this country. "Moscow attempts to influence the mass media, parts of civil society in Serbia", he says.  EU with a1,5 billion euro financial assistance in Serbia, is the largest donor in this country that supports economic reforms and projects. McAllister is aware, however, that at the same time Russia is perceived in Serbia as one of the biggest supporters of the country. "For the EU this means that together with the help of Serbian politics and civil society to make this engagement present."/ Oculus News

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