Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Wednesday for the EU doors to remain open for Western Balkans countries, Turkey and Iceland.

- The enlargement has proven to be one of the most successful of all European Union policies, Bildt said at the European Parliament debate on the EU enlargement strategy.

- After the large enlargement that brought in approximately 100 million new citizens in the Union, our attention is now focused on the countries of South-Eastern Europe - perhaps up toward a 100 million citizens as well. This will not come either fast or easy. The different challenges we face in the different countries of the Western Balkans are well known. And we are all aware that there are those in our respective public opinions that would prefer to just shut the door to all of them...I belong to those who are convinced that this would be a mistake of historic proportions - the consequences of which would haunt our Europe for a very long time to come, Bildt said.

He considered that if that door were to be shut, the other doors would immediately be opened up to other forces, 'and we might well see these parts of Europe moving off in directions that over time will have negative consequences for us all'.

Bildt believes that forthcoming abolishment of EU visa requirements for the citizens of Macedonia Montenegro and Serbia 'is a major and most important step forward'. He expressed hope that Albania and Bosnia would catch up and be able to join this most important step forward.

- I don’t believe that we have completed the building of our Europe. I believe that we must remain an open Union, and that we should remain committed to the enlargement process that brings good governance, the rule of the law, reconciliation, peace and prosperity to larger and larger parts of our Europe. This is of importance to them – and it is of importance to us. But let us not forget that it will also make it possible for us to stand taller in the world, and for our voice to command even greater respect in the future, Bildt said in his address.

Rehn said that the EU would take a long-awaited step forward next week when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force.

- This will start a new era in the EU's foreign policy. Indirectly, it will also cement the EU's renewed consensus on enlargement, based on the 3 Cs of consolidation, conditionality, and communication – combined with an improved capacity to integrate new members, Rehn said.

Referring to the enlargement process, Rehn said that it was one of the EU's most powerful foreign policy tools.

- Indeed, the EU’s credibility as a global actor stands or falls by our ability to shape our own neighbourhood. It is here that we have achieved our most remarkable successes over the past 20 years of transforming the European continent, of reunifying East and West, and of building a stronger Union, Rehn said.

Enlargement policy was a key driver of this process, he said, pointing out that it continues to transform South East Europe today.

- Given the economic crisis, all these countries might easily have turned inward. Instead, they continue to pursue the European orientation, with all the tough choices and bold reforms it entails, the EU Enlargement Commissioner said.

He called on MEPs to encourage their governments to make a brave decision on Macedonia in line with the EU strategic interests, which also includes the enlargement process.