Members of the European Parliament (EP) fully support recommendations by the European Commission (EC) on next steps in approaching the Western Balkans to the EU, and urge all EU members states to do the same, reads the joint press statement by the EP working group for the Balkans.

The EU should accept constructive and credible recommendations by the EC aimed at further EU integration of the Western Balkans. Following the enlargement strategy and the report on progress and ahead of the decision by Council of Europe, the working group for the Balkans urged that Croatia's agreement on the EU accession should be followed by a clear message to all other West Balkan states.

In the times of crisis, it is an advantage to look ahead. It would not be wise to freeze the enlargement process after signing the agreement with Croatia since that would harm the EU's credibility and jeopardize stability in southeast Europe, reads the statement which was signed by eight EP members.

The signatories of the statement believe that the regional perspective should be accompanied by individual accomplishments of each EU aspirant.

Therefore, the EU should send a clear and strong message which would be in line with expectations of the Western Balkan countries. We are certain that the recommendations by the Commission for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo justify further institutional steps including start of the membership talks, granting of the candidate status, or the beginning of the visa liberalization dialogue, the statement says.

The statement of the EU members urges not to reject recommendations by the Commission, recalling that the EC in the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2011-2012 recommended signing of an accession agreement with Croatia, beginning of talks with Montenegro and Macedonia, approval of Serbia's candidate status, and start of the visa dialogue with Kosovo.