Brussels, 14/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 14 October, the Commission adopted its 2009 “enlargement package”, comprising the annual progress reports on three applicant countries (Turkey, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - FYROM) and the five other Balkan countries which all have prospects of joining the EU (Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo). The Commission also adopted a separate communication on the European future of Kosovo. The texts are available on the Europa site: http: //ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/key-documents/reports_oct_2009_en.htm
The only real piece of news relates to the FYROM: thanks to the political reforms undertaken by the country (which now meets the Copenhagen political criteria), the Commission has recommended to member states that accession negotiations be opened with Skopje, after the FYROM officially became an applicant country in December 2005. The launch of talks (which will require a unanimous decision by the European Council) will depend more than ever on settling the dispute with Greece over the use of the
name “Macedonia”.
For the remainder, the Commission wants the reports to be seen as “encouragement” to the pursuit of reform in Turkey and the Balkan countries, particularly in this period of economic crisis and “enlargement fatigue” within the EU. This is all the more so since the challenges facing applicants are huge. The rule of law, in particular tackling corruption and organised crime, and also the strengthening of administrative capacities remain the major challenges, the Commission says. Problems affecting freedom of expression and the media must also be dealt with as a priority.
“The enlargement strategy we present today is a demonstration of our commitment to the European future of the Western Balkans and Turkey,” said Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn at the presentation of the reports to the press. The next Commission (Barroso II), Rehn argued, would have to follow the same enlargement policy, which had shown its worth. The prospect of accession was a strong incentive to applicant countries to implement political and economic reforms, and it strengthened peace and stability in Europe, the Commission says in its report. “It is in the EU's strategic interest to keep up this momentum, on the basis of agreed principles and conditions,” it concludes.
Turkey (which, at this point, has opened 12 of the 35 negotiating chapter, with one provisionally closed). Accession talks have reached a more difficult stage, requiring Turkey to speed up its reforms, the Commission says. With regard to the political accession criteria, Turkey has made further progress in areas such as the reform of the judiciary, civil-military relations, and cultural rights (the Commission welcomes the opening of a public TV channel broadcasting 24-hour in Kurdish nation-wide). The Commission also welcomes the fact that Ankara is now giving greater priority to preparation for accession (it has appointed a full-time chief negotiator, Egemen Bagis, and approved the national programme for the adoption of the acquis), but is critical of “the lack of dialogue and spirit of compromise between political parties” which it feels is “detrimental” to the pursuit of reform, particularly constitutional reform. The Commission also calls for further effort to ensure freedom of expression and of the press (the “disproportionate fine” imposed on the main press group “raises concerns”), freedom of worship and tackling torture and ill treatment. On the economic level, the Commission points out that reform has slowed and some structural reforms have still to be undertaken. Turkey has made considerable progress on bringing itself into line legislatively with the EU, but in some areas (including agriculture, fisheries, veterinary and plant health policies, state aid, justice and home affairs), further effort is needed. The country's general administrative capacities must be improved. The Commission welcomes Turkey's positive contribution to the stabilisation of the South Caucasus and the Middle East. The normalisation of relations with Armenia has progressed significantly with the recent signature of the agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations. Turkey also played a decisive role in regional security, energy security, energy supply and the promotion of the dialogue between civilisations, the Commission says. It calls on the government to implement the additional protocol to the Ankara agreement (customs union with the EU) and to open its ports and airports to Cyprus. The Commission encourages the leaders of the two Cypriot communities to redouble their efforts to successfully conclude negotiations as quickly as possible and encourages Turkey to make an active contribution to the reunification of the island.
Croatia. Croatia is, according to Rehn, in the finishing straight with its negotiations which, after being deadlocked for several months (because of its border dispute with Slovenia) resumed on 3 October. At this point, 28 of the 35 chapters have been opened and 13 provisionally closed. Croatia must continue with its reform efforts, particularly in relation to the judicial system and public administration, and tackling corruption and organised crime (which remain widespread). Minority rights, in particular the return of refugees, must be given closer attention. There must be no let-up in prosecution of war crimes, the Commission says. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) still faces problems in getting access to important document in Croatia, it says. The Commission notes that the government's economic policy sometimes lacks clear direction in the medium term and that structural reform has only made slow progress. With regard to the adoption of the acquis communautaire, Croatia must do more to strengthen its administrative structures and capacities.
FYROM. The Commission recommends that accession talks be opened because of the overall progress in reform. It is now essential that good neighbourhood relations be maintained and that, under the aegis of the United Nations, a negotiated and acceptable solution is found with Greece to the issue of the name of the country, the Commission says. The FYROM has now met the Copenhagen criteria, a key element if accession talks were to be opened. The 2009 presidential and local elections, for the most part, met with international standards; political dialogue has improved, the coalition in power is stable, the political climate is more favourable to cooperation and parliament had become more effective. The key priorities of the “accession partnership” relating to the reform of the police, the judicial sector, public administration and to tackling corruption have generally be implemented, the Commission says. The legal and institutional framework on human rights and the protection of minorities is largely in place. However, further effort is needed to improve how it is implemented in some areas, the Commission notes.
Serbia. Serbia has shown its commitment to EU integration by undertaking key political reforms in line with European standards the Commission reports. The Commission calls for the implementation of the interim SAA (currently blocked by the Netherlands) which Belgrade has decided to apply unilaterally. Strengthening the rule of law and speeding up economic reform remain important, the Commission stresses. Serbia must also adopt a more constructive attitude vis-à-vis Kosovo's involvement in regional cooperation. Cooperation with the EULEX mission has begun, but further effort is required, particularly with regard to the operation of EULEX in the north of Kosovo, the Commission says.
Motenegro. Montenegro submitted its candidacy for accession in December 2008; in April 2009, the Council invited the Commission to give its “opinion”. The legislative elections met virtually all the international standards, but there remain a few shortcomings to be overcome, the Commission says. Strengthening the administrative capacity and consolidating the rule of law remain the major challenges
for Montenegro.
Albania submitted its candidacy for accession in April 2009 and the Commission is ready to deliver its opinion as soon as asked by the Council (this decision might be taken by Council as early as this month). The legislative elections satisfied most international standards, but some shortcomings remain to be addressed at the next elections. Strengthening the rule of law and guaranteeing the proper functioning of state institutions remain the major challenges the Commission says.
Kosovo. Kosovo faces major challenges, including the rule of law, tackling corruption and organised crime, strengthening administrative capacities, protecting Serbs and other minorities, and reconciliation between the two communities. Kosovo has to adopt a constructive attitude towards regional cooperation and ensure that it continues to support the work of EULEX. In a specific communication approved on Wednesday, the Commission sets out the political areas where Kosovo will have to make progress over the coming years and indicates how the EU can help. Thus, the Commission suggests beginning work on visa liberalisation for Kosovan citizens and putting in place trade relations with Kosovo. It hopes, too, to consider ways to get Kosovo to take part in some Community programmes and to bring it into initiatives in the areas of employment, enterprise and education. The Commission proposes, also, that the EU improve its political dialogue and extend its financial assistance. EU measures should be implemented progressively as Kosovo meets the criteria set by the member states. (H.B./transl.rt)