by RAY FLEMING
ALBANIA, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey: what do these countries have in common? They are all in the queue to join the European Union. Yesterday the European Commission published the latest of its periodical reports on the progress that these applicants are making towards meeting the democratic, legal, social and fiscal standards that the EU requires before serious negotiations over entry can begin. Olli Rehm, the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement issues, is rather like a headmaster making comments on his pupils' progress in their end-of-term reports -- country X has done quite well in reforming its legal processes but needs to make a stronger effort in respect of women's rights, and so on.
Croatia was told that it is getting near the finishing line but still needs to do more to get rid of corruption in government and to reduce organised crime. The truth is, though, that this finishing line is only in a qualifying heat to reach the starting line for the really serious final negotiations.
Turkey has found this out the hard way. It is the largest and economically strongest of the remaining applicant countries and has made many adjustments to its legal and other traditions to bring them into line with EU requirements; but new obstacles keep being put in its path. In yesterday's report there was a warning about the freedom of the Turkish press, an issue which Ankara promptly said has nothing to do with the EU.