EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn says 2025 is "a realistic goal for a new wave of (EU) enlargement.)

Serbia and Montenegro have currently "progressed the farthest" toward that goal - but that does not mean that the two countries will definitely be the first to "cross the finish line," Hahn told Austria's APA agency.

"There is still much to do," he said.

Croatia will not directly engage in the formation of the Kosovo army - as has been announced by candidate for Kosovo PM Alibin Kurti, writes Vecernje Novosti.

However, the daily - that refers to Kurti as "the leader of the Self-Determination" - adds that it learned from "well-informed military and political circles in Zagreb" that if the West gives green light to Pristina to transform the Kosovo Security Forces into armed forces, Croatia "will provide assistance first in military training."

The South-East European Cooperation Process member countries is being held in Dubrovnik today, which will be attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The president of Croatia will give the introductory speech at this meeting, after which, Tanjug learned, the situation in the region will be spoken about first by President Vucic, and then his Slovenian colleague Borut Pahor, head of the Montenegrin state Filip Vujanovic, Kosovo President Hashim Thaqi, President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Turgul Turkes.

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci told Croatian daily Jutarnji that transformation of Kosovo Security Force into an army does not represent a threat for any country of the region, instead it would contribute to peace.

Thaci said that Kosovo is a sovereign state and as any independent country, has the right to have its own army. According to him, this will happen during this year and these forces will be trained according to NATO standards.

Reporters Without Borders' latest World Press Freedom Index says media freedoms are diminishing in several Balkan countries, with Croatia and Serbia registering the worst declines over the past year.

TIRANA: Albania and Croatia have asked NATO to revise plans for its peace-keeping mission in Kosovo, arguing that nationalist rhetoric by Serb politicians threatens to destabilise the region scarred by the 1990s wars.

Relations between Serbia and its former province Kosovo came under renewed strain since Belgrade sent a train painted with the slogan "Kosovo is Serbia" to the border and Kosovo police said it would stop it from entering its territory.