Brussels, 05/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission believes that the countries of the Western Balkans - Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo - are all capable of stepping up their European integration and that the EU should support them in their efforts through new measures. For that reason, the Commission presented a communication on 5 March proposing that the Member States and the European Parliament support a series of very concrete initiatives designed to bring these countries closer to the EU, such as removing the need for visas, creating a common transport area, increasing the number of study grants for students, increased participation in EU programmes and more intensive cooperation in the areas of research, education, culture, youth, employment policy, social issues, environmental protection and justice.
The communication will be debated by the Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Member States at their informal (“Gymnich”) meeting on 28/29 March in Brdo (Slovenia).
Accelerating the process does not mean that the accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) or the stabilisation and association process will be relaxed, the European Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, insisted when he presented the communication to the press. “Moving closer towards the EU implies meeting the criteria and conditions for each stage”, he said.
The communication first reports the state of play in the progress made in each country:
Croatia. This is the only one of the countries concerned which has already begun accession negotiations (sixteen of the 35 chapters have been opened, and two have already be closed). According to Mr Rehn, 2008 could be a “decisive year” for the country, which wants to conclude the negotiations at the end of this year or the beginning of 2009. This will depend on it making progress on judicial and administrative reform, fighting corruption, protecting minorities and restructuring the naval sector. Croatia should also do more to settle certain “open issues” with its neighbours, such as the disagreement with Italy and Slovenia over the extension of the ecological and fishing protection zone. This subject and the general state of accession negotiations were also at the heart of the interview which Mr Rehn was due to hold with the Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Wednesday evening in Zagreb.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom). As announced (EUROPE 9610), the Commission retains eight criteria (benchmarks) in its communication with the country must fulfil before the Commission can recommend a date for the opening of negotiations to the European Council. These eight criteria correspond exactly to the short term priorities set in the new Access Partnership which the Council adopted on 18 February: the implementation of the commitments made in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), improvements to the dialogue between political parties, implementation of the police reform and the new anti-corruption legislation, reform of the judicial sector and public administration, measures in the area of employment policy, and improvements to the investment climate. “Fyrom must fulfil these criteria to demonstrate that it is ready to start accession negotiations”, Mr Rehn said. The Commission is of the opinion that “with the necessary political will and cooperation between the different political parties, this additional progress could be made in 2008”. In this case, the Commission would propose a date in its next progress report, due in October. A decision on the opening of accession negotiations could then be taken by the European Council in December 2008. The dispute between Fyrom and Greece - which has a right of veto in the European Council - about the name “Macedonia” could complicate matter, Mr Rehn acknowledged. For this reason he is recommending that the two countries resolve this “bilateral” problem as quickly as possible.
Serbia. “Serbia's progress on the road towards the EU, including candidate status, can be accelerated”, the Commission says. The EU's offer to sign an interim political agreement to advance Serbia's European integration without waiting for the signature and entry into force of the SAA (currently blocked) remains on the table and the Commission remains keen to accelerate matters. However, “it needs two to advance”, emphasised Mr Rehn, who expects the Serbian authorities to “reaffirm their will” to move closer to the EU. However, since the declaration of independence in Kosovo, the line seems rather to be hardening in Belgrade, where Prime Minister Kostunica and part of the Parliament are even considering cutting all links with the EU. On Wednesday, addressing the press, Mr Rehn did not want to comment on this worrying development and refused to meddle “in the internal affairs” of Serbia. Nonetheless, he did say that the Serbian government would do better if it listened to “the silent majority of the people supporting EU membership”. The commissioner also expressed understanding of the “difficult situation” in which Serbia found itself, following the Kosovo events. He affirmed that “we have to have patience” with Belgrade but said that no “red lines” should be crossed or violence resorted to, which the EU could not accept.
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Despite it demonstrating political will, the country should be able to sign an SAA in April, explained Mr Rehn for whom this would represent “an important step towards obtaining candidate status”. Police reform, the last obstacle to the signing of the SAA, should be approved by the government and parliament, Mr Rehn insisted. He also said that he was confident that this objective would be obtained in April.
Albania. The country has made good progress in legislative alignment and implementation of its SAA. Further efforts are needed towards electoral reform and improving the judiciary, fighting corruption and organised crime, as well as strengthening the economy.
Montenegro. The prospects of this country achieving European integration will depend on strengthening the rule of law (notably in the fight against corruption and organised crime), improving administrative capacity and implementing the SAA.
Kosovo. The young state has the same “clear and concrete EU perspectives” as other Balkan countries. The Commission will use available instruments to promote democratic reforms, friendly relations with neighbouring countries and economic development. The Commission is currently preparing an international donors conference for Kosovo.
New Commission proposals
To speed up the European integration process for these countries, the Commission is proposing:
Establishing roadmaps for getting rid of visas. Following the conclusion of visa facilitation and return agreements with Balkan countries (they entered into force on 1 January 2008), the Commission launched a visa liberalisation dialogue with Serbia (in January), as well as FYROM and Montenegro (in February). Dialogue with Albania will begin this month, while that with Bosnia-Herzegovina is expected to begin in the next few months. In consultation with the Council, the Commission will establish roadmaps with all the countries involved. The latter will outline the demands that each of them will have to fulfil in the four specific domains of: document security; illegal immigration; public order and security measures and external relations. The Commission affirmed that “the speed of the movement towards visa liberalisation will depend on each country's progress in fulfilling the benchmarks”.
Expanding Community programme participation. Candidate countries and potential candidates can participate in Community programmes on the basis of framework agreements negotiated with them. Since 2007, most Balkan countries are involved in the 7th framework programme for research and some of them will participate in the culture, Fiscalis, competitiveness and innovation, and customs programmes. The Commission wants to make other programmes available to this country in 2008 but the communication does not mention how;
Negotiating an agreement on setting up common transport area (land, sea and river) between the EU and the Balkans. The aim is to conclude the agreement in 2009 (see other article);
“Doubling” number of scholarships to students from Balkan countries under the Erasmus Mundi programme;
Fostering legal cooperation, particularly through agreements signed by Europol and Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and FYROM (in 2007) and Croatia (in 2006). Similar agreements are being negotiated with Montenegro and Serbia.
Strengthening support for civil society in the Balkan countries. In 2005-07, the EU provided total financial support of €27 million for civil society development projects. This aid will be reviewed upwards though a “new facility to promote civil society development” covering subjects such as human rights, health, the environment, the media etc.
The communication is available in English at the European Commission website: (http: //ec.europa.eu/enlargement/balkans_communication/index_en.htm). (H.B.)