Former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Erhard Busek thinks that the EU must change its strategy towards the Western Balkans. And it should allow all countries from the region to join immediately, he said, B92 reports.

During last night's debate "Europe and you: the balance of the Austrian Presidency and the prospects for the European Parliament elections," held in Vienna, Busek emphasized that it was pointless to "play a doctor" and try to correct something.

"The south of Italy is not mature for the EU either, yet it is in the Union. We need the entire Balkans in the EU urgently. Everything else in reality would be unfair," the Chairman of the Vienna-based Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe said.

Busek noted that many of the EU instruments were obsolete, including its rotating presidency. "I'm not sure how useful it is," he stressed