Brussels, 28/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - After lengthy discussion, member states meeting at the General Affairs Council recommended, on Wednesday 28 February, that Serbia be granted candidate status for accession to the EU. Candidate status should be confirmed by the European Council on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 March. Nicolai Wammen, Danish Minister for European Affairs, said: “It is a secret for no-one. Negotiations were difficult and rocky. I am pleased that we are able to recommend granting candidate status to Serbia. We have confirmed that Serbia has met the criteria set for granting that status and we expect the European Council to do the same”. He explained that discussions should be held in coming days to smooth out any remaining differences.
According to European diplomats, Romania blocked immediate agreement. Bucharest has put pressure on Serbia, by calling for guarantees for the Romanian minority in that country. Some 35,000 Romanians are said to live in Serbia, as well as 40,000 Vlach - considered by some as Romanians and by others as being of a separate nationality. After over two hours of discussions on the status, ministers were compelled to mark a pause, one diplomatic source said. They awaited high level contacts to be held in Bucharest, another source said. During the afternoon, the Swedish minister expressed irritation. Carl Bildt tweeted that “it is not very dignified when nations bring up unrelated issues as we are trying to move Serbia and Kosovo forward. Lack of European spirit”.
A Commission statement, annexed to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council, points out that respecting protection of minorities is a major element in EU accession criteria, and that the setting in place of the legal and institutional framework for respect of that protection of minorities must continue and be improved and that the Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation.
No date was given for beginning talks.
Kosovo moves towards the EU. The Council also noted the “intention of the Commission to launch a feasibility study for a stabilisation and association agreement between the EU and Kosovo” but “without prejudice to member states' position on status, or any future decisions to be taken by the Council”. Five European countries - Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus and Romania - do not recognise Kosovo's independence. (CG/transl.jl)