“Western Balkans is destined to prevail in the foreign policy agenda of the EU in 2018, since that region is one of the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the Union. The efforts for admission of the region to the European Union are also traditionally supported by the European Parliament, however pointing out defects in the rule of law, lack of fundamental rights, or insufficient struggle against corruption”, says a press release of the European Parliament meeting in Strasburg today: the new EU strategy for western Balkans revealed by Foreign Policy High Representative Federica Mogherini will be debated. And after revealing its strategy for western Balkans, the Commission is supposed to present its periodic reports on EU extension in April. Those reports will consider the steps made by the countries wishing to join the EU, and will be examined by the European Parliament during the year. Serbia and Montenegro are the closest countries to the EU, since membership negotiations with them are going on, while the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and Albania are still expecting the beginning of negotiations. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are late; however, they are two potential EU candidates.