EU leaders steer clear of Serbia discussions

This should be really no surprise that EU leaders(???) don't want to discuss Serbia- because there appears no unanimous consensus- and the ministers don't want to appear divided. So they will wait until "things" develop on their own (with a lot of covert pressure). The EU ministers are supposedly the ones who make the decisions (even the tough ones) about the EU....but apparently, the real power brokers of the EU are the ones who are deeply set behind the scenes- where countries don't matter- only money. Serbia, stay strong and INDEPENDENT!

"Kosova is the big obsticle for everything."
Kosova-USA

You put the words in my mouth. Kosovo was always the black hole of former Yugoslavia and now it continues to be a place with high crimerates, racism, abductions and drug smuggling. This affects the entire region in a negative way. The reason this issue is going to be brought up in the EU parliament at a later point is for the EU to make sure no Albanians, residing in Serbias southern province, will benefit from the advantage given to Serbs.

BRUSSELS -- Discussions regarding Serbia’s European future were pulled off the agenda of this week’s EU summit at the last minute.

I WONDER WHY?
Serbia is being played by EU politicians, and Serbia just does not get it.
One thing is clear that Serbia will not get anywhere no matter what they(EU) promise,becasue Kosova is the big obsticle for everything.

I am "werry" suprised :)
they postponed the isue.
They will do it until its election time in Serbia, then they will do somthing like they did the last election, but only id the "right" candidate and the right party wins.

It no surprise the the Mladic "video" came out now.

I agree with you Aleks: They probably did discuss Serbia, hence the silence and no categorical denial that they did not. The same is true of the Slovene-Croatia boarder dispute which clearly is still an extremely raw issue with the Slovene government (mine, mine, mine - stamp feet, throw tantrum, use veto etc.) It is nonsense of a united Europe it never was or will it be without force or painful arm twisting just look at realistically at Europe's bloody history. Now with the Economy's shrinking deficits rising in country's and no money to be made from the so called EU. Country's of Europe will be looking to put one over their neighbors to exploit any way they can. Case in point of Slovenia's many greeds and trying to undermine and rip off every one.

They probably did discuss Serbia, hence the silence and no categorical denial that they did not. The same is true of the Slovene-Croatia boarder dispute which clearly is still an extremely raw issue with the Slovene government (mine, mine, mine - stamp feet, throw tantrum, use veto etc.).

The Dutch are clearly feeling the pressure from the rest of the EU hence the huff and bad temper behavior (their FM 'left quickly with out answering questions' after all).

The Swedes take over from the Czechs for the next EU Presidency and they hold the same position as the others. The pressure on Holland to give in will not reduce.

Still, if the Dutch are more than happy to take the blame for any political instability in the balkans consequent to their actions, I'm more than happy to see them take the blame. Maybe their government will resign again, after all they did so last time over the Srebrenica 'genocide' propaganda over their misplaced sense of responsibility when they were used as a tool by the Bosnian Moslem leadership and the US.

MikeC

Kosova was the least developed part of former Yug but not the black hole, dont trust Serbian propaganda.Southern part of Serbia(Belgrade-Nis)was/is not in a better state that Kosova was/is.

Actually, i share the opinion that Kosova is going to be the biggest obstacle of Serbia prosperity. even if Serbia get visa free regime that does not mean a lot. Only thing that serbian citizen can do is travel to EU without visa, but not work or do anything else. This means that only the wealthy ones would be able to taste free visa regime, in precentage less than 5% of Serbian population.

Yugoslavia was always a thorn in Europe a nonexistent entity dreamed up by Serbian nationalists inspirations to steal others territory. Too bad both Serbians and Albanians are suffering the redicoulous conciquences of it.

It is not a good news for anyone. But it is likely that the Dutch are the ones who have pulled it out of the agenda and the reason is still that their requirement is not meet, to arrest Mlladic. A refresh for noncooperation is the last video tape about him shown on the Bosnian TV.

The EU is simply not satisfied by the Balkan countries, having the same attitude towards us as we (some of the Balkans) have for each other. On the other hand our governments fail to do whats necessary, although membership is their top priority in their administrations.

I really wish for a change in the Balkan prospective of doing things.

Kosova-USA it has nothing to do with the position of Serbia on Kosovo, this is about the Dutch and thier guilt over Bosnia. Lets not forget the EU has a neutral position on Kosovo not all members recognise independence.

The rest of the EU want Serbia in the fold, Kosovo stability is important, what the EU wants is good relations in the Balkans, some major issues need resolving first, the lisbon treaty, crime, Bosnia, refugees. As far as the EU goes EULEX is govering Kosovo as long as UNMIK and EULEX are there then we (EU?NATO) have control.

Serbia's present goverment have done more towards EU intergration then at any time since the NATO bombings. Lets not forget the US is now going out of its way to work with Serbia, now training Serb army officers, the US has what it wants a base in the Balkans.

THe EU should stop messing about and sort out all agreements with Serbia and get them agreed and signed.

Good Luck Serbia

I'm not as pessimistic about the EU as you Lenard.

There's pleny wrong with it (such as both the European Parliament and Council of Ministers (WTF?)), but Lisbon - if I am not mistaken - will deal precisely with the problems of needing unanimity for the European (dis-)Union, i.e. unanimity rather than qualified majority voting and the Slovene government like blackmail will at least be restricted in future.

The EU is a good thing(!), but it is NOT a land of milk and honey (i.e. a giant milch kow that dispenses 'aid' 'grants' and 'regional support' from never ending udders forever in return for people not killing each other) as peddled by quisling, spineless governments in the balkans.

These politicos appear to have a total lack of political imagination to offer anything else to their citizens.

If you want to join the EU, you have to give a piece of yourself and it isn't free. You also have to fight and cooperate.

I wish the balkan pols would stop lying to their voters about the EU.

/Rant

news conferences and answering journalists' questions are things of the past, as far as Verhagen is concerned.

He twitters, and he speaks English, so teh public can ask questions directly:

BRUSSELS -- Discussions regarding Serbia’s European future were pulled off the agenda of this week’s EU summit at the last minute.

I WONDER WHY?
Serbia is being played by EU politicians, and Serbia just does not get it.
One thing is clear that Serbia will not get anywhere no matter what they(EU) promise,becasue Kosova is the big obsticle for everything.

Yugoslavia was always a thorn in Europe a nonexistent entity dreamed up by Serbian nationalists inspirations to steal others territory. Too bad both Serbians and Albanians are suffering the redicoulous conciquences of it.

MikeC

Kosova was the least developed part of former Yug but not the black hole, dont trust Serbian propaganda.Southern part of Serbia(Belgrade-Nis)was/is not in a better state that Kosova was/is.

Actually, i share the opinion that Kosova is going to be the biggest obstacle of Serbia prosperity. even if Serbia get visa free regime that does not mean a lot. Only thing that serbian citizen can do is travel to EU without visa, but not work or do anything else. This means that only the wealthy ones would be able to taste free visa regime, in precentage less than 5% of Serbian population.

"Kosova is the big obsticle for everything."
Kosova-USA

You put the words in my mouth. Kosovo was always the black hole of former Yugoslavia and now it continues to be a place with high crimerates, racism, abductions and drug smuggling. This affects the entire region in a negative way. The reason this issue is going to be brought up in the EU parliament at a later point is for the EU to make sure no Albanians, residing in Serbias southern province, will benefit from the advantage given to Serbs.

This should be really no surprise that EU leaders(???) don't want to discuss Serbia- because there appears no unanimous consensus- and the ministers don't want to appear divided. So they will wait until "things" develop on their own (with a lot of covert pressure). The EU ministers are supposedly the ones who make the decisions (even the tough ones) about the EU....but apparently, the real power brokers of the EU are the ones who are deeply set behind the scenes- where countries don't matter- only money. Serbia, stay strong and INDEPENDENT!

It is not a good news for anyone. But it is likely that the Dutch are the ones who have pulled it out of the agenda and the reason is still that their requirement is not meet, to arrest Mlladic. A refresh for noncooperation is the last video tape about him shown on the Bosnian TV.

The EU is simply not satisfied by the Balkan countries, having the same attitude towards us as we (some of the Balkans) have for each other. On the other hand our governments fail to do whats necessary, although membership is their top priority in their administrations.

I really wish for a change in the Balkan prospective of doing things.

I am "werry" suprised :)
they postponed the isue.
They will do it until its election time in Serbia, then they will do somthing like they did the last election, but only id the "right" candidate and the right party wins.

It no surprise the the Mladic "video" came out now.

They probably did discuss Serbia, hence the silence and no categorical denial that they did not. The same is true of the Slovene-Croatia boarder dispute which clearly is still an extremely raw issue with the Slovene government (mine, mine, mine - stamp feet, throw tantrum, use veto etc.).

The Dutch are clearly feeling the pressure from the rest of the EU hence the huff and bad temper behavior (their FM 'left quickly with out answering questions' after all).

The Swedes take over from the Czechs for the next EU Presidency and they hold the same position as the others. The pressure on Holland to give in will not reduce.

Still, if the Dutch are more than happy to take the blame for any political instability in the balkans consequent to their actions, I'm more than happy to see them take the blame. Maybe their government will resign again, after all they did so last time over the Srebrenica 'genocide' propaganda over their misplaced sense of responsibility when they were used as a tool by the Bosnian Moslem leadership and the US.

I agree with you Aleks: They probably did discuss Serbia, hence the silence and no categorical denial that they did not. The same is true of the Slovene-Croatia boarder dispute which clearly is still an extremely raw issue with the Slovene government (mine, mine, mine - stamp feet, throw tantrum, use veto etc.) It is nonsense of a united Europe it never was or will it be without force or painful arm twisting just look at realistically at Europe's bloody history. Now with the Economy's shrinking deficits rising in country's and no money to be made from the so called EU. Country's of Europe will be looking to put one over their neighbors to exploit any way they can. Case in point of Slovenia's many greeds and trying to undermine and rip off every one.

I'm not as pessimistic about the EU as you Lenard.

There's pleny wrong with it (such as both the European Parliament and Council of Ministers (WTF?)), but Lisbon - if I am not mistaken - will deal precisely with the problems of needing unanimity for the European (dis-)Union, i.e. unanimity rather than qualified majority voting and the Slovene government like blackmail will at least be restricted in future.

The EU is a good thing(!), but it is NOT a land of milk and honey (i.e. a giant milch kow that dispenses 'aid' 'grants' and 'regional support' from never ending udders forever in return for people not killing each other) as peddled by quisling, spineless governments in the balkans.

These politicos appear to have a total lack of political imagination to offer anything else to their citizens.

If you want to join the EU, you have to give a piece of yourself and it isn't free. You also have to fight and cooperate.

I wish the balkan pols would stop lying to their voters about the EU.

/Rant

news conferences and answering journalists' questions are things of the past, as far as Verhagen is concerned.

He twitters, and he speaks English, so teh public can ask questions directly:

Kosova-USA it has nothing to do with the position of Serbia on Kosovo, this is about the Dutch and thier guilt over Bosnia. Lets not forget the EU has a neutral position on Kosovo not all members recognise independence.

The rest of the EU want Serbia in the fold, Kosovo stability is important, what the EU wants is good relations in the Balkans, some major issues need resolving first, the lisbon treaty, crime, Bosnia, refugees. As far as the EU goes EULEX is govering Kosovo as long as UNMIK and EULEX are there then we (EU?NATO) have control.

Serbia's present goverment have done more towards EU intergration then at any time since the NATO bombings. Lets not forget the US is now going out of its way to work with Serbia, now training Serb army officers, the US has what it wants a base in the Balkans.

THe EU should stop messing about and sort out all agreements with Serbia and get them agreed and signed.

Good Luck Serbia