Brussels, 10/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 11 December, the EU foreign affairs ministers are due to discuss the EU's enlargement policy, and little tangible progress is expected. In the view of one European diplomat, the ministers are again due to agree on the issue of the Former Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Kosovo. FYROM is not due to obtain the opening of negotiations because, in spite of the European Commission's proposal to settle the issue of the name in parallel with the accession negotiations, Greece would still block. Nonetheless, according to a European diplomat, “there is greater resolve around the table this year to deal with the issue”.
The opening of accession negotiations with Serbia is also due to have to wait. “On the issue of Serbia and Kosovo, we have a problem of date and what the repercussions would be on Kosovo”, a European diplomat explained, saying that not all countries are in agreement on the date of opening the negotiations but that they want to send a signal to Belgrade at the same time. He added that although the Serbia and Kosovo files are not parallel, “we need to create a synergy”. In his opinion, the member states are apparently also wondering about the subject of the stabilisation and association agreement with Kosovo, when five countries from the EU have not recognised its independence.
Albania is not due to obtain its official candidate status as the member states want still more progress on the 12 key priorities defined by the Commission. They are apparently also awaiting the parliamentary elections to be held in 2013. (CG/transl.fl)