Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2010-2011

- stresses that one of the main political priorities of the Committee of the Regions is to secure the success of the EU enlargement process;

- considers visa liberalisation for some countries of the Western Balkans to be a good example of how much can be achieved when imposing strict conditions is combined with granting specific advantages;

- has not overlooked the fact that in most countries a whole series of challenges remain, the solution to which will in part be very slow and long drawn-out; it sees a need for reform particularly in nation-building, the rule of law and expansion of administrative capacities at all levels, particularly at regional and local level, and also in better governance, reform of the judicial system and efforts to combat corruption and organised crime at every level of government;

- stresses that accession countries must continue to receive support for their efforts in the form of subsidies from the instrument for pre-accession (IPA) and loans from the European Investment Bank and other international financial institutions;

- is firmly convinced that without properly prepared and trained political and administrative representatives at regional and local level, enlargement efforts cannot be carried through to a successful conclusion.