Merkel says Balkan stability comes before EU entry

BERLIN, Mar 15 (Reuters) Western Balkan countries must achieve further political stability before the European Union can consider them for membership, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today.

''I think that for the countries in the western Balkans, I'm thinking in particular of Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, that we're at a very different stage there,'' she told reporters after a meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

''The question of full membership isn't the immediate question, it's more about political stabilisation,'' she said.

However, she said the process of stabilisation would not exclude full membership at some stage.

She left open whether a different form of partnership, falling short of full membership might be a possibility but said close ties between Europe and the region were essential.

''I think ... a peaceful, stable political development in the western Balkans isn't possible without a close link to the European Union,'' she said.

Jansa, whose country was once part of the Yugoslav federation, said he agreed with Merkel but appeared more positive on the prospects for entry.

''The countries in the western Balkans are European countries and I think that one day in the future they will meet the criteria for entry,'' he said in comments translated into German.

Merkel and Jansa made their remarks after EU foreign ministers said at the weekend membership for the western Balkan states was their ultimate goal provided the bloc was able to absorb new members.

Croatia is holding membership discussions, but the issue of further EU expansion has been put on hold amid growing public scepticism in Europe.

Merkel said the EU would not be ready to grow past currently agreed limits until it settled on a charter allowing it to function better with more members.

''So we face important discussions in the coming months and years in Europe to make the European Union capable of functioning,'' she said.

REUTERS SHR RN2303