Brussels, 13/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 July, Slovakia's minister for foreign affairs, Miroslav Lajcak, presented the foreign policy priorities of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU. He highlighted enlargement policy.
“Our priority is enlargement. This is not coincidence. We think it is important to preserve the credibility of this process - which has suffered recently because of a lack of progress and the atmosphere that reigns in the EU”, Lajcak told the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee. He added that enlargement policy is the most effective instrument for fostering reforms. In his opinion, candidate or potential candidate countries must feel that the outlook of accession is tangible. “We should make a distinction between the countries that have good results and those that don't - otherwise the countries will notice that, even if they do not do their duty, they will be rewarded, and this can reinforce scepticism”, he added.
Lacjak then reviewed all the candidate or potential candidate countries. Stating that Slovakia was in favour of Bosnia-Herzegovina being granted candidate country status, he regretted that the momentum was running out of steam in this country - which has still not adopted the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA), nor the coordination mechanism. The Foreign Affairs Council on 18 July is due to look at Bosnia-Herzegovina's request for accession to the EU, but “on the policy side, no progress has been made”, he said, criticising the “useless blockages”. “I believe the [accession] process will help change the political atmosphere” in Bosnia, he said.
“Greatly concerned” at the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Lacjak underlined that last year's political agreement and reforms should remain a priority, as should the creation of conditions for inclusive and credible elections. As regards Montenegro, he said it was important to keep a good dynamic and not slow down the pace of reforms, despite the future elections. He said he would like a negotiation chapter to be closed in order “to motivate Podgorica”. In Lacjak's view, Albania has made good progress in the five areas needed to be able to open accession negotiations, but it must still adopt the judicial reform package, which could lead to the opening of these accession negotiations. Saying that Serbia will open two negotiation chapters on 18 July (EUROPE 11590), Lacjak stated that this country should pay attention to the rule of law and to the normalisation of its relations with Kosovo, and should focus on gradually harmonising its foreign and security policy with that of the EU. Pristina must meanwhile make progress on implementing the SAA, and must also make progress on reforms, on normalising its relations with Belgrade and on the issues outstanding for visa liberalisation.
Saying that “Turkey is a candidate country, but also a strategic partner”, Lacjak thought it was important to continue cooperation in certain areas of common interest such as migration, foreign and security policy, the fight against terrorism, the economy, energy and trade. “Turkey has progressed well in certain areas of the acquis, yet its developments on the ground raise concerns. Democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and civil liberties must be respected”, he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)