The European Union wants countries in the Western Balkans to know it has big plans for them. On Feb. 5, the European Commission released a document outlining its strategy for the six countries in the region -- Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia -- that aspire to joining the European Union. In the document, the commission has outlined a plan for the bloc to increase cooperation with the Western Balkans on issues such as security, the rule of law, immigration and infrastructure for energy and transportation. However, the document also states that none of these countries are expected to join the European Union until at least 2025, and warns governments that they must introduce important political, economic and institutional reforms before they can become EU members....
