Brussels, 18/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Before they can join EU, the countries of the Western Balkans must resolve all of their neighbourhood differences "because the European Union will not import regional conflicts", the permanent president of the European Council announced on Monday 18 October. Herman Van Rompuy therefore called on the countries of the region to step up regional cooperation, "which must lead to good neighbourly relations". By insisting that the candidate countries resolve all of their neighbourhood problems before they can join the bloc, the EU is showing that it has learnt from the 2004 wave of enlargement, when this principle was not applied strictly. Cyprus came on board without first resolving the issue of the division of the island and Slovenia was allowed to join despite its border dispute with Croatia.
Visit. Herman Van Rompuy's announcement comes on the eve of a two-day visit to the Balkans, starting this Tuesday 19 October and which will take him to Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania. In all of these places, he intends to confirm the “European prospects” of these countries which, like Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo, all hope to join the EU one day, as long as they can fulfil the accession criteria. In the view of Van Rompuy, there is no question that the countries of the Balkans have their place in the EU. All of these countries have a “European destiny” which will become reality one day, he said. Van Rompuy intends to devote one of the forthcoming European Councils to the European future of the Balkans.
Stepping up reforms. “Europe is committed to a European perspective of the Western Balkans”, Van Rompuy stressed before he left. He expects the candidate countries and potential candidates to undertake “more intensive overall reforms in key areas”: democracy, good governance, human rights, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, economic development. The president of the Council will also insist on full cooperation with the International Criminal Court for the Former Yugoslavia.
Different stages. The countries of the Balkans are all at different stages in the process of European integration. Croatia, which is the furthest forward, is in the final stages of its accession negotiations. FYROM obtained the status of candidate country in December 2005, but is still waiting for a date for talks to open (these are blocked by Greece due to a dispute over the name “Macedonia”). The applications of Albania and Montenegro are currently being assessed by the Commission; the two opinions will almost certainly be ready in November. Serbia is waiting for its accession application to be put before the Commission for its opinion (the issue will be examined by the General Affairs Council of 25 October). Bosnia-Herzegovina has concluded a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA), but is not yet ready to present its application. As for Kosovo, the problem of its status - five member states do not recognise the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo - currently prevents the Union from entering into contractual relations with Pristina. (H.B./transl.fl)