The touchy subject of EU enlargement will raise its head again on Wednesday, when Brussels publishes an annual report on its expansion strategy.

The European Commission is expected to announce that Croatia is on track to finish negotiations and join the union in three years time, although it must crack down on organised crime to conclude talks.

It will say Turkey must step up its reforms, improving women’s rights and press freedoms, if it hopes to join the EU.

But it will acknowledge Ankara did well in resolving the showdown between the secular establishment and the Turkish ruling party.

Macedonia will not get the green light to start talks to join the EU because of a flawed election this year.

For Serbia, there is praise for arresting war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic but Belgrade will only become a candidate if it hands over other fugitives.

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