The New European Democracy Program (NEDP) hosted a day-long conference to alert the Washington policy community and business representatives to specific opportunities and obstacles in the wider Balkan region.

The conference introduction was delivered by Behgjet Pacolli, CSIS International Councillor. With the administration of President Barack Obama in place and key appointments being finalized, the conference offered a compelling vision for completing the U.S.-allied mission in the western Balkans.

The objective of the conference was to alert the Washington policy community and business representatives to specific opportunities and obstacles in the wider Balkan region in its drive toward economic development, the rule of law, foreign investment, regional security, and international institutional integration.

With the administration of President Barack Obama in place and key appointments being finalized in the security, foreign policy, and commercial arenas, CSIS intends to offer a more compelling vision for completing the U.S.-Allied mission in the Western Balkans.

The conference "Completing America's Mission in the Balkans" staged by CSIS, intends to offer a more compelling vision for completing the U.S.-Allied mission in the Western Balkans. It hopes to issue some practical recommendations for American policymakers to help develop and integrate the entire region.

Janusz Bugajski of CSIS said that most Balkan countries are still out of the two support pillars of the West - NATO and EU. The potential instability scenarios impose the need for reconfiguration of the role by the US and EU, particularly in the regional security and economic development, he added.

In his address before the attendants of the conference, Daniel Serwer of the US Institute of Peace-Peace & Stability Operations, stressed that in a situation when US has to tackle issues of higher priority than the Balkans, EU should grant membership to the Balkan's countries as soon as possible.

"We need a joint US-EU action and I call the Union to admit the Balkan's countries as soon as possible, once they meet the necessary requirements," Serwer said.

We hope to issue some practical policy recommendations for American policymakers to help develop and integrate the entire region.