Merkel confirms Serbia’s EU prospects

Merkel knows only too well that there is no way that the EU could provide any certainty regarding accession into the EU until the debacle over what to do about the constitution is resolved. This applies to any possible new coutry wishing to join. Merkel had said at the start of the German EU presidency that she would make this a priority but as with most EU issues they are painfully protracted and end up being a indecisive fudge.

That said it does Serbia no harm to utilise the SAA process as a guide and motivator to reforms but as on all matters the Serbian interest should be paramount. At the top of Serbia's priority is it's sovereign integrity!

If Yugoslavia hadn't succumb to the forces of nationalist hatred and the ambitions of a small group of evil old men then Yugoslavia as a whole would have joined the EU in the 90's. And if Tito hadn't wanted to be a big fish in a small pond (Non-aligned States) Yugoslavia could have been one of the founder members of the EEC and spent the last 35 years building prosperity for its citizens.

Ah yes, EU desperately needs Serbia as a member. Otherwise they will be surrounded. Not militarily wise but more so from a strategic point of view. For Russia to gain again a foothold in the Balkans it would be devastating for the stability of EU and they know it.

CCCC

The EU works GREAT as an economic/free trade zone and it is in Serbia's own interest to adopt and implement the standards that are critical to Serbia's long term economic prosperity.Enough rational European leaders are coming to recognize the fact that economics should not be held hostage to politics.It is a good thing that Serbs appoint/elect TALL representatives who are not intimidated by the shorter physical stature of other European leaders who suffer from the Napoleonic complex.

I sincerely hope that SAA talks won't restart, otherwise it will be another proof for Serbia that the EU can be fooled any times it wants to. The EU asked for Mladic, and on the eve of Carla del Ponte's visit Serbia produced Tolimir, thus showing that it knows perfectly well where all war criminals are, and it can arrest them at any time, in tune to the deadlines it faces. The EU should stand firm now, it asked for Mladic, and Mladic must be arrested and transferred to Sheveningen, otherwise talks shouldn't be restarted at all. Of course this is only my opinion, and I'm sure that the EU will choose the easy way this time, as it did many times in the past. This way we'll be sure not to see Mladic in Sheveningen for at least 2 more years, until Serbia gets another serious deadline.

Andrea it is obvious that you don’t understand legal process. Independence of the tribunal, due process and the rule of law are elements that have been developed over ten centuries, It is obvious to me that you support summary justice based on victors justice and avoidance of the ICC rules, Your emotive language indicates lack of understanding of internationalism. Read more talk less and you may be more objective..

Merkel knows only too well that there is no way that the EU could provide any certainty regarding accession into the EU until the debacle over what to do about the constitution is resolved. This applies to any possible new coutry wishing to join. Merkel had said at the start of the German EU presidency that she would make this a priority but as with most EU issues they are painfully protracted and end up being a indecisive fudge.

That said it does Serbia no harm to utilise the SAA process as a guide and motivator to reforms but as on all matters the Serbian interest should be paramount. At the top of Serbia's priority is it's sovereign integrity!

If Yugoslavia hadn't succumb to the forces of nationalist hatred and the ambitions of a small group of evil old men then Yugoslavia as a whole would have joined the EU in the 90's. And if Tito hadn't wanted to be a big fish in a small pond (Non-aligned States) Yugoslavia could have been one of the founder members of the EEC and spent the last 35 years building prosperity for its citizens.

Ah yes, EU desperately needs Serbia as a member. Otherwise they will be surrounded. Not militarily wise but more so from a strategic point of view. For Russia to gain again a foothold in the Balkans it would be devastating for the stability of EU and they know it.

CCCC

The EU works GREAT as an economic/free trade zone and it is in Serbia's own interest to adopt and implement the standards that are critical to Serbia's long term economic prosperity.Enough rational European leaders are coming to recognize the fact that economics should not be held hostage to politics.It is a good thing that Serbs appoint/elect TALL representatives who are not intimidated by the shorter physical stature of other European leaders who suffer from the Napoleonic complex.

I sincerely hope that SAA talks won't restart, otherwise it will be another proof for Serbia that the EU can be fooled any times it wants to. The EU asked for Mladic, and on the eve of Carla del Ponte's visit Serbia produced Tolimir, thus showing that it knows perfectly well where all war criminals are, and it can arrest them at any time, in tune to the deadlines it faces. The EU should stand firm now, it asked for Mladic, and Mladic must be arrested and transferred to Sheveningen, otherwise talks shouldn't be restarted at all. Of course this is only my opinion, and I'm sure that the EU will choose the easy way this time, as it did many times in the past. This way we'll be sure not to see Mladic in Sheveningen for at least 2 more years, until Serbia gets another serious deadline.

Andrea it is obvious that you don’t understand legal process. Independence of the tribunal, due process and the rule of law are elements that have been developed over ten centuries, It is obvious to me that you support summary justice based on victors justice and avoidance of the ICC rules, Your emotive language indicates lack of understanding of internationalism. Read more talk less and you may be more objective..