Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Albania -- into the bloc. Croatia has already been accepted as a candidate, and Rehn said he hoped to start entry talks in February or March next year, but declined to say when it may be ready for membership. Zagreb wants to join with Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. "Substance is more important than a timetable so that if Croatia is able to fulfil the criteria for membership it can itself have an influence on its timetable," he said. Several deputies pressed him to hold open the prospect of eventual membership to countries like Ukraine and Belarus, which became neighbours after the bloc expanded eastwards in May to take in 10 new members. But Rehn dismissed this, saying he preferred to develop the EU's "New Neighbourhood Policy" to build ties with these states. "We shouldn't kill hopes but not give false hopes either, and I think it's better to discuss this matter in the future," he said.
