In the past few decades, Balkans has earned an image of unstable region, due to constant struggles between people living on that peninsula in reaching strategic aims. Yet, while Western Balkans countries wait impatiently to access EU, it seems that their European future is temporarily slowed, because the agreement on adopting the Treaty of Lisbon was not achieved.

The Irish "no" to the Treaty of Lisbon, which would make EU more efficient, has disappointed not only western European officials, but Western Balkans leaders as well, including those from Albania and ex Yugoslav republics, without Slovenia. Although the previously written EU constitution, like the Treaty of Lisbon, tries to regulate decision making system in increasing community of European nations, Balkans states will have to wait while EU members reach an arrangement.

According to the statements, France will take the advantage of EU presidency in attempt to coordinate its policy toward Western Balkans, fully aware of contrasts between the Irish "no" to the Treaty of Lisbon and Balkans "yes" to European integration. Even though European leaders struggle with resulted consequences, the Balkan countries share great expectations: Serbia is looking forward to reach candidate status until the end of current year, Montenegro expects to apply for that status very soon, Macedonia waits to begin membership negotiations, and Croatia to enter the last phase of negotiations. On the top of everything, each of these states expects to be included on "white Schengen list" as soon as possible.

Messages of encouragement arrive from Brussels and Paris, but French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was sincere in June when he explained that there will be no enlargement of the European Union unless the Treaty of Lisbon is accepted first.

German chancellor Angela Merkel supports faster EU integration process of Western Balkans, particularly Croatia and Serbia, but, on the other hand, her party colleague Elmar Brok thinks that EU enlargement should be postponed until the new EU constitutional agreement is adopted. Brok, a German member of the European Parliament, said recently on the Economic Forum in Polish spa Krynica that Croatia and Serbia have to understand that the current blockade on acceptance of new members until finish of the EU`s reform is, in fact, a positive situation for them.

"The Treaty of Lisbon was seen as preparation for the further enlargement of the Union. In my opinion, the major mistake was made few years ago, because a treaty of that kind didn`t exist before several countries accessed the EU. With 27 or even 30 member states, there is always a possibility that some of them reject something even though it`s in the best common interest. I don`t blame anyone, it`s just a matter of human nature", says Brok, also known as an influential member of the EP`s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

If the enlargement of the Union continues without changing the decision pattern in the EU, this situation, Blok believes, might cause differentiation between state-members.

"If EU accepts new members without adopting reforms first, it will lead to division on member-states of first and second category. There cannot be any enlargement before reaching an agreement on the Treaty of Lisbon. It will be positive experience even for countries that wait for EU accession, like Croatia and Serbia", he explained.

The Slovenian Government Office for European Affairs deputy head Gregor Krajc, unlike Brok, thinks that EU reform won`t be an obstacle for European integration of Balkan states.

"In the course of Slovenian EU presidency, our government has pointed that Western Balkan countries ought to work on reforms, so that the European Union will be ready when they approach to it with all conditions fulfilled", declares Krajc, adding that the Treaty of Nice assures an institutional reception of new EU members.

Croatia and Serbia wouldn`t be the only states waiting on EU access due to institutional changes inside the community. Although Austria was economically and politically ready when it applied for the European Community association in 1989, the acceptance took place in 1995 as a result of institutional changes and political decisions inside the EC. Not only that the European Community was in transitional process into the European Union, but the European "twelve" were suspicious because of military neutrality of potential new member state. Austrian request ran into the cold reception, though it was a founder of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1960, and though it had a special economic arrangement on the duty-free exchange of industrial manufactured good with the European Community from 1972. After two years of wait the European Commission answered affirmatively on Austrian application, and it took two more years to begin membership negotiations in 1993, together with Finland, Sweden and Norway.

If Irish would have change their minds on referendum and accept, like other member-states, the Treaty of Lisbon, this doesn`t mean that the Western Balkan countries are free to access the EU. Croatia struggles with corruption and judiciary reform, Serbia is under pressure because of Kosovo status issue and co-operation with the ICTY, Montenegro doesn`t manage to apply for candidacy, Macedonia disputes with Greece over the country name, while Bosnia and Hercegovina cannot become an EU member having the present constitution. Many obstacles need to be surpassed on a way to the EU, among which is the improvement of regional collaboration at all levels, which would certainly lead toward better life standard of Western Balkans citizens.