The Balkan Peninsula (Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro)› Since the collapse of

Yugoslavia, ethnic tensions have ravaged the area

› Currently, Croatia is an “acceding” member, if their accession treaty is ratified in July, 2013 they will be a member nation

› Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia are candidates for accession

› Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina are potential candidates

The Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia The Ukraine and Belarus are part

of the EU’s European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership

The program works with nations to the east and south of the EU nations to offer economic aid to developing countries that promote democracy and economic reform

The Ukraine has reached an association agreement with the EU increasing the trade between the Ukraine and EU nations

Relations between the EU and Belarus have stalled in response to the undemocratic nature of the government and potential human rights violations

Russia and the EU have a trade partnership but Russia does not want EU membership, and the EU has questioned Russia on human rights violations recently

Why was the European Economic Community (name changed to the European Union in 1993) founded? What was its original goal?› To create a climate of economic

cooperation amongst European nations devastated by WWII

› The hope was that this would help these nations rebuild and help avoid future conflicts

› Today it promotes trade but also focuses on environmental concerns, democratic reform, and human rights issues