Between 25 and 28 February, the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, was on tour in the Western Balkans, with the aim of reassuring these six countries over their future within the European Union.
On Thursday 1 March, the six leaders will meet Juncker again, but this time with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boiko Borissov, to prepare for the EU/Western Balkans summit of 17 May.
At a press conference in Belgrade with the Serbian President, Aleksander Vucic, he stressed the leading importance of relations with the Balkans, explaining that this was a priority to the EU, which had always considered that it was “not complete without the Balkans”.
At the start of his term in office, Juncker caused a stir when he announced that the EU would not welcome any new members before 2020, before going on to stress, in September of last year, that the EU would have more than 27 member states in 2025. This date features in the strategy on the Western Balkans presented by the Commission on 6 February. Juncker took advantage of his tour to provide clarity over this date. He stressed that 2025 was not a promise, but an indication, a perspective and strong encouragement. “Neither I nor the Commission have said that Serbia and Montenegro would necessarily be members of the EU in 2025. This date concerns all candidate countries”, he explained in Albania. “I have not come here to make empty promises”, he said in various capitals, despite the expectations of some of the Balkan states.
Pressing on with reforms
In the Western Balkans, the Commission President explained that the Commission’s strategy underlined the importance of the reforms to be undertaken in the region. “It is giving new impetus to the reforms”, he said. Although he welcomed the reform efforts in the countries he visited, he took pains to call for these to be continued.
Addressing the Parliament in Montenegro, Juncker regretted the absence of the opposition, which has been boycotting sessions for several months. “I have never been a fan of empty chair politics (…). Internal political dialogue is more necessary than ever, as the country is a long way” along the road to Europe, he explained, adding that this was not the time for the country to lose its head of steam. Addressing Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, Juncker welcomed the reforms undertaken by the country, but stressed that they must be implemented effectively.
In a meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose country hopes to open enlargement negotiations, the Commission President recognised that Albania was continually making progress, including of a structural nature. “If this continues, it will allow the Commission to recommend the opening of negotiations, when the time comes”, he added, stressing that he could only encourage reforms concerning the fight against crime, the vetting of judges and prosecutors or the organisation of courts and tribunals. “We need the Commission clearly to recognise (…) that progress has been made in each of the five priorities” put forward by the EU to open talks, Rama added.
“If you continue down the reform road, in a few months’ time this will allow the Commission to invite the Council to undertake accession negotiations”, Juncker said, this time in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He expressed satisfaction with the reforms undertaken, particularly the way in which the government is trying to reconnect with the opposition parties. Speaking alongside him, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expressed hopes that the Commission’s progress report, scheduled for 17 April, would take account of the country’s progress and “recommend the opening of negotiations, which would be a further encouragement to our country”. “2018 should be an historic year”, he added.
In Serbia, as in Kosovo, reforms are needed in terms of justice, the rule of law and fundamental rights, Juncker said. “It is vital that a raft of reforms is adopted and translated into specific commitments”, he added, addressing the Bosnian parliament in Sarajevo (see article). He also stressed the need to reform the electoral law. “The legal gaps identified by your Constitutional Court must be plugged, quickly and specifically. Otherwise, you risk institutional paralysis that will halt your European progress”, he warned, also calling for divisions to be overcome, a strong cohesion to be forged and for the country, made up of two entities, to speak with a single voice.
Resolving border issues
Juncker also made it clear that no state that had border issues would be able to join the EU. “We cannot allow countries into the EU if they have not resolved their territorial conflicts, we cannot import bilateral conflicts”, he warned, adding that the EU aimed to export its stability, not import instability into Europe.
In Skopje, Zaev highlighted his country’s efforts to resolve the question of its name with Greece, in order to make it possible for Skopje to join the EU and NATO. Welcoming the treaty to normalise relations between FYROM and Bulgaria, Juncker called on Skopje to do its work with Greece, upon Athens to do its work with FYROM and for things to move in the right direction for FYROM’s European perspective. In London on 27 February, Zaev presented four options for his country’s new name: Republic of Northern Macedonia, Republic of Upper Macedonia, Republic of Vardar Macedonia and Republic of Macedonia (Skopje).
President Vucic of Serbia said that the problem between FYROM and Greece was “ten or a hundred times smaller” than the one between his country and Kosovo. “This is the hardest question, the hardest task that lies ahead”, he explained. If there is no convergence between the Serbian and Kosovar Presidents, the only way to put an end to this conflict is through dialogue, under the auspices of the EU. “It is not our place to set the exact terms and perimeters of this agreement, it is for Belgrade and Pristina to do this”, Juncker explained.
In Kosovo on Wednesday 28 February, the day of the visit of the President of the Commission, President Hashim Thaci announced that the Assembly had ratified the agreement with Montenegro concerning their border issue. Juncker said that he firmly believed that with additional specific results in the fight against corruption, the “Commission would soon be in a position to propose visa liberalisation”. Kosovo is the only country of the region still not under a visa-free regime. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)