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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Brussels, 5.11.2008COM(2008) 674 final
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THEEUROPEAN PARLIAMENTEnlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2008-2009
{SEC(2008)2692}{SEC(2008)2693}{SEC(2008)2694}{SEC(2008)2695}{SEC(2008)2696}{SEC(2008)2697}{SEC(2008)2698}{SEC(2008)2699}
 
 
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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSIONTO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTEnlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2008-20091. I
NTRODUCTION
 
Enlargement is one of the EU's most powerful policy tools. It serves the EU's strategicinterests in stability, security, and conflict prevention. It has helped to increase prosperity andgrowth opportunities, to improve links with vital transport and energy routes, and to increasethe EU's weight in the world. In May 2009, the EU will mark the fifth anniversary of the 2004enlargement.The present enlargement agenda covers the Western Balkans and Turkey, which have beengiven the perspective of becoming EU members once they fulfil the necessary conditions. TheEuropean perspective has contributed to peace and stability, and enabled partners to cope withmajor challenges, such as Kosovo's declaration of independence, while maintaining regionalsecurity. It provides in both the Western Balkans and Turkey strong encouragement for  political and economic reform. It is in the EU's strategic interest to keep up the momentum of this process, on the basis of agreed principles and conditions. This interest to project stabilityis all the more apparent in the light of recent challenges to stability to the East of the EU,including in the southern Caucasus.Turkey’s strategic importance to the EU has further increased in key areas such as energysecurity, conflict prevention and resolution and regional security in the Southern Caucasusand the Middle East. The country's engagement with the EU, through the negotiations andrelated reforms which are underway, makes it a stronger force for stability in a region facingmany challenges. The present security environment in Europe also calls for the consolidationof stability and enhancement of reform in the Western Balkans.Against this background, the consistent implementation of the renewed consensus onenlargement, as defined by the December 2006 European Council, is more important thanever. This consensus is based on the principles of consolidation of commitments, fair andrigorous conditionality and better communication with the public, combined with the EU'scapacity to integrate new members.The EU has taken steps to improve the quality of the enlargement process, considering in particular the lessons learned from previous enlargements. Greater focus is now given at anearly stage to the rule of law and good governance. The pace at which a candidate or potentialcandidate approaches the EU reflects the pace of its political and economic reforms as well asits capacity to assume the rights and obligations of membership in accordance with theCopenhagen criteria.The year ahead will be a crucial one in addressing challenges in the Western Balkans. The progress of the Western Balkan countries towards EU membership can be accelerated, provided they meet the necessary conditions. Croatia is expected to reach the final phase of accession negotiations by the end of 2009 if it has taken the necessary preparatory steps.Further reforms in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will bring the country closer 
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