Rehn: EU backs Serbia's EU perspective

Norway are NOT joining €U, not now not any time soon. Bankrupt Iceland rejected the Russian loan and has choosen to have it´s fish-rich water vacuum-cleaned by €U, bad choise...stop being ridiculous. Other free countries especially Serbia should stay just the beautiful way they are in order to avoid mass unemployment poverty and privatizations.

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

Serbia should follow the example of Iceland.
(Mircea, 23 July 2009 10:54)

This is planet earth....Norway will never consider joining the EU. It has the second highest GDP in Europe. Only Luxembourg's is higher. In discussion with Norwegian friends and family they are more content away from the all the crap that comes with membership.

As for Serbia joining!Why be part of a club whose majority assisted in bombing you and who jump at the command of the usa.

Mircea,

What has Romania achieved since joining this illustrious club. Maybe your GDP is slightly better but for the majority of your residents life has not changed.

Who really cares anymore about what these EU mouthpieces say? The EU will not be taking in new members for a long, long time. They just want the Balkans to fall in line with their demands, and talk of promises that may never come. Who needs them anyway?

Serbia just say NO to the EU.God bless our still sovereign nation of Serbia

Is anybody outraged by the blatant racism of the EU’s VISA liberation plan for Serbia? It’s outrageous! The EU as an organization has not recognized the Illegal Unilateral declaration of Independence(IUDI) of Kosovo (i.e. Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus etc.) so they cannot condition Serbia with recognizing this illegal act. But they want to proceed with Serbia’s EU integration by segregating its citizens into different classes. What nation in the world is subjected to this type of discrimination of its citizens? In other words, Serbian Citizens of Albanian descents that live on the territory of Kosovo Province are second class citizens not deserving the benefits of Visa Liberation! What’s next? A third class of discrimination for Gypsies! What about the Serbian Citizens of Hungarian descent many of the want Independence maybe they should be exclude from the Visa liberazatioin? What about the Muslims of Sanjak? This is blatant racism! The EU will hide behind the words “living on the disputed territory”, which they will argue includes Kosovo citizens of Serbian descent, which in fact would be a form of soft Ethnic cleansing of the remaining Serbs in Kosovo. But however you package this disgusting proposal it is blatant racism! Serbian Citizens of Albanian descent born on the territory of Kosovo were born with a birth right to Serbian citizenship and should have the ability to exercise this citizenship the same as Serbian Citizens of Serbian descent that were born on the territory of Kosovo. Even if you believe the IUDI of Kosovo is valid the Atashri plan called for dual citizenship. Was this dual citizenship for only Kosovo citizens of Serbian descent? Is this the EU’s Progressive Liberal definition of Multiethnic society? The EU’s policy in the Balkans has been consistent with blatant racist isolation of Muslim communities in ghettos so they can deny them entry into the EU! Can Albanian citizens of Albanian travel freely throughout Europe? Their territory is not disputed? Why has Turkey waited so long with no prospect in sight for joining the EU, even though it has been a loyal and herculean defender of European valves as a member of NATO! The republic of Georgia has plenty of support for joining the EU, even though its borders are in dispute, but Turkey is still not ready! What the difference, is it that Georgia is a Christian Nation? I guess Turkish citizens can die for European values in various NATO adventures, but cannot participate in the fruits of civil and economic integration.
For an extreme example, in the Southwestern United States there is an organization called AZTALAN that advocates the secession of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas based on the historical rights of its citizens of Mexican descent. Lets hypothetically say that the majority of EU countries support their effort as they do in Kosovo, should the EU preclude entry to these Mexicans (but allow the American residents entry) until this dispute is settled? This would be ludicrous. This example is in the extreme, but by analogy exposes the hypocrisy of the EU. The EU policies are blatantly racists, at best neo colonist and at worst neo fascist.
Serbia is the most multi ethnic republic of the former Yugoslav republics and must protect all its citizens’ rights. The disenfranchisement of citizens’ rights by western policies must stop! All former citizens of Yugoslavia were disenfranchised of rights. In the former Yugoslavia, citizens of Albanian descent from Serbia’s Kosovo province could within his or her full rights relocate to the Yugoslav Republic of Slovenia and establish a new life, open a store, buy a home and enjoy full citizenship. Now under the progressive EU policies this same individual cannot even travel to Slovenia! The same can be said for Bosnia Muslims or Bosnian Serbs or Bosnian Croats or Montenegrins or Croatians or Vojvodina Hungarians or Sanjak Muslims or Vlachs or Goraini or Ashakli or Turks as well as Serbians. Is this a Liberal progressive notion of multi ethnic Rights? Please do not misunderstand my argument. I am not advocating the reformation of Yugoslavia. Too much blood has been shed by all peoples of the former Yugoslavia for any such reformation, but that is exactly what the EU proposes with EU integration? Supposedly, it will be like it used to be!
But how can this be achieved when they continue to formant division based on ethnicity and double standards. In Bosnia, a basket case of a country with a viceroy, with two entities , three official virtually identical languages, four flags and three ethnic groups that barely recognize each other must be centralized and do not possess the right to self determination! While in Serbia, ethnic groups have to decentralized, be regionalized and with only one group - Albanians possessing the right to succeed? In Kosovo, under the atashri plan independence and multi ethnicity are defined as a European Viceroy, a foreign occupying army and a foreign run justice system written into the constitution and two distinct communities that don’t interact and are stuffed in separate ghettos. In Montenegro a population of 650 thousand has the right to independence and to disenfranchise it Serbian citizenry and church properties? But double this population in Republica Srpska does not have this right to independence, even though their existence is constantly threatened by the west. What if the Bosnian Muslims wanted to succeed from the other two communities in Bosnia, would the west still have the same policy it applies to Republica Srpska? I think not, that would not be progressive and it would facilitate easer isolation of Muslim communities that they could then tell they are not quite ready for EU but certainly can join NATO! Their youth would certainly be needed in Afghanistan. In Croatia, a country on the brink of economic meltdown due to foreign debt, which has been allowed to ethnically cleanse 15% of its population that has left whole swats of it territory devoid of population, is also not ready for the EU. Ironically Croatia is now spending huge sums of money trying to convince Serbians to come and visit the Dalmatian coast just like they used too, since western tourist have become bored with Dalmatia’s rocky beaches. By the way how long before it is considered progressive by the EU for Dalmatia or Istra to be regionalized like Vojvodina? You know Istra and Dalmatia have distinctly different history than the rest of Croatia. Just like Vojvodina. That way they could control more of their hard earned tourist money and be more easely exploited. In Slovenia, that progressive EU country that’s a gateway country to the exploitation of former Yugoslav Republics, why is there still tens of thousands of residents that were stripped of their citizenship, waiting in legal limbo while the courts sort out the mess. They are in the EU right? You think that should have all been resolved right? How did they enter the EU if they still had border disputes with Croatia? Should Croatia have to give up their legitimate claim to the border for entry into the EU? In Macedonia, well that’s a different story, they have a direct link to Alexander the Great and as such are Ancient Greeks, however their Albanian population should have special dispensation just like Albanians of Kosovo and not be allowed to travel to European countries. That would make sense, since the EU is applying this two tiered Visa Liberation for Serbia I am sure they will apply the same standards to Macedonia.
The EU was built on equal rights and equal integration of all member nations populations based on economic parameters. However, this certainly has not been the policy in the Balkans. The EU policy in the Balkans has been infused with racial, social, economic and political double standards and hypocrisy primarily based on economic exploitation. I will remind all former citizens of Yugoslavia regardless of which republic you identify with that World War Two lasted only five years, here we are almost twenty years after the breakup of Yugoslavia and nothing seems resolved. Can any republic claim the majority of its citizens are better off economically than before the break up? Some certainly are but vast majority have been sold down the river by former communists turned nationalists turned democrats turned whorecrats, I am sorry I meant Eurocrats. Twenty years later and still no reconciliation has been achieved between the various peoples of Yugoslavia. It’s just easier to blame Milosevic for everything, he is omnipresent you know. The EU and America had no contributory influence. Likewise, Franjo, Alja, Harris, Milo, Gotovina, Adem , Hashim, Hardenjia, Oric, Mesic, Kardizic and all the rest of cast of cartoon characters that were just innocent bystanders controlled by that ever omnipresent Milosevic! For me living in the west this break up has had some benefits; I used to only speak two languages, English and Serbo-Croatian, now my CV lists Bosnian/Herzegovina(a Three for one Language- Bosniak, Croatian and Serbian) , Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Montenegrin, Macedonian(you know that ancient Greek language)and maybe soon to be added if the EU has it way Kosovian (Serbian is one of two official languages ), Vojvodinian, Sanjakian, maybe Dalmatian and Istrian, then again why not Slavonian, Sremian, Shumadjian, Zlatiborian, Banatian , Herzog Bosnian and considering the population growth maybe Sarajavian and Belgradeian. That would be ideal for the EU, more little nations to economically exploit, but of course they would strive to make them multi ethnic bastions of democracy that the EU is promoting in Kosovo. Then they could apply varying degrees Visa liberation depending on how many Muslims resides in each nation. It Disgusting! Enough is enough.
Serbia must protect all its citizens including citizens of Kosovo, of whatever ethnicity and religion, regardless of the EU Racists Policies. Many Kosovo Albanians will exercise their citizenship rights. Some will not, those that chose not exercise their rights of citizenship will soon realize that the EU only offers subjugation and colonialization called Conditional Independence and will return to the negotiating table and negotiate a final settlement. Whatever that final settlement looks like it will be negotiated and not unilaterally imposed. That would ensure closure unlike the present legal limbo. Heck with creative negotiations, assurances and concessions maybe a referendum of independence can be achieved. However, the present policies by the EU and Western Powers, infused with double standards and hypocrisy, applied inconsistently primarily in Bosnia and Kosovo are a recipe for further unrest that I sadly fear could be bloodier than the previous decade.

Oh! Thank you very much EU. Soon we will all be rich and prosperous. I´m sittning here waiting for you!

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

this time you skipped Switzerland... :) am not Norvegian but for some very clear economical reasons I believe that this submission will not happend anytime soon!

If Serbia were seriously against the independence of Kosovo, they would have refused a free-visa regime offer, which excludes Kosovo.

I wonder if the Serbs are aware of what they have just signed.

True or not true, please B92 continue to post these encouraging articles about us joining EU, at least once a day, please..

Tadic: What are you waiting for? Recognize Kosovo, Vojvodina and Presevo(a) and extradite all those stupid people that fought for this land.Do whatever they demand but please let us all be super-rich now!!!!

Dear Dan-Ch
I am happy that you are able to travel as a Swiss citizen. But I am sure that you don’t quite feel like an equal citizen of Switzerland. Those progressive Swiss gave you a passport, but you really are not Swiss in their eyes are you? That’s the point! In Westerners eyes all Balkan peoples are just not quite up to par to sophisticated cultured westerns and need to be subjugated and exploited. Albanian Kosovars rail against the Previous Serbian abuses, but all that you have done is traded one master for another! Until all Balkan peoples realize that the West is not as altruistic as they try to present themselves, but rather act only in exploitive self interest, can they truly free themselves. In other words, reconciliation among Balkan peoples of all previous evils, by all sides regardless of motivations or rationalizations is the first step in shedding the stifling subjugation of history that the West exploits. Then we will be able to see that there is more that binds us than separates us. The West thrives on chaos, they profit from conflict, they never solve problems only perpetuate them. I challenge you to give me an example where the West entered a conflict situation, solved the problems and LEFT the region in peace and stability; Korea? IRAQ? Palestine? Afghanistan? Pakistan? Bosnia? But the key thing is they don’t leave! Heck there are still occupying forces in Japan and Germany. The point is they only leave when they are driven out or the local combatants solve their own problems and they become irrelevant with no profits in sight. Since nobody in the Balkans has the power to drive them out, then the only solution is through negotiations to solve our own problems. Then all Balkan Peoples regardless of ethnicity or religion will be able to enter this fabled magical EU on equal footing with westerners. Otherwise they will always be considered second class citizens not really quite up to par western citizens and always needing their tutelage. Realization of this western peculiarity of superiority to everybody that’s different can be quite liberating that you can apply to your own life in Switzerland. Look that blond haired blue eyed Swiss compatriot in the eye and demand he treat you equally, don’t be so grateful they gave you citizenship that they confuse gratitude with subservience. I have personally found that they respect arrogance much more than gratitude, that’s when they truly accept you as an equal citizen. They always seem to confuse gratitude with subservience. So be careful, continually relying on their tutelage will only enslave the other half of Kosovo’s population that has not been as fortunate as you. Only local solutions bourne of compromise, negotiations and reconciliation can free all Balkan peoples of subservience to the West. Then maybe someday you and I can meet in Prizen, my family originally hails from Prizen, and have a civilized discussion on the finer points of history over a cup of tea. I believe your people drink tea traditionally, right? Otherwise, if we allow the West to perpetuate the animosity that exist between all communities in the Balkans, I sadly fear we are just wait for the extremists on all sides to begin the next round of bloody retributions. We will all circle the wagons in our respective communities, regardless how irrational and the West of course will be vindicated in the need to subjugate people so primitive!
Cheers
Legaleye

Our Government is getting more commical day by day. Tadic must have begged Oli Rehn to say something positive about our 'imminent' entrance in the dog-house of Europe. And Oli have responded. The newest 'success' of our famous diplomacy (read it- humiliation)is that we have backing of this gentleman, for 'serbian prospects'- not for Serbia itself.
Stay tuned for the next episode of this hillarious soap opera.

Iceland submitted its application for EU membership on 17 July. This shows that Icelandic politicians understand the importance of the EU for Iceland.

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

Serbia should follow the example of Iceland.

@legaleye

nice try! but we albanians can wait another 1 or 2 years without visa liberalization.and im sure since you are an expert you know it that about half of the people of kosovo already are eu or swiss citizens or live in western europe or usa.they already can travel without visas.i am myself a swiss citizen.

True or not true, please B92 continue to post these encouraging articles about us joining EU, at least once a day, please..

Tadic: What are you waiting for? Recognize Kosovo, Vojvodina and Presevo(a) and extradite all those stupid people that fought for this land.Do whatever they demand but please let us all be super-rich now!!!!

Iceland submitted its application for EU membership on 17 July. This shows that Icelandic politicians understand the importance of the EU for Iceland.

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

Serbia should follow the example of Iceland.

If Serbia were seriously against the independence of Kosovo, they would have refused a free-visa regime offer, which excludes Kosovo.

I wonder if the Serbs are aware of what they have just signed.

Serbia just say NO to the EU.God bless our still sovereign nation of Serbia

@legaleye

nice try! but we albanians can wait another 1 or 2 years without visa liberalization.and im sure since you are an expert you know it that about half of the people of kosovo already are eu or swiss citizens or live in western europe or usa.they already can travel without visas.i am myself a swiss citizen.

Who really cares anymore about what these EU mouthpieces say? The EU will not be taking in new members for a long, long time. They just want the Balkans to fall in line with their demands, and talk of promises that may never come. Who needs them anyway?

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

this time you skipped Switzerland... :) am not Norvegian but for some very clear economical reasons I believe that this submission will not happend anytime soon!

Is anybody outraged by the blatant racism of the EU’s VISA liberation plan for Serbia? It’s outrageous! The EU as an organization has not recognized the Illegal Unilateral declaration of Independence(IUDI) of Kosovo (i.e. Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus etc.) so they cannot condition Serbia with recognizing this illegal act. But they want to proceed with Serbia’s EU integration by segregating its citizens into different classes. What nation in the world is subjected to this type of discrimination of its citizens? In other words, Serbian Citizens of Albanian descents that live on the territory of Kosovo Province are second class citizens not deserving the benefits of Visa Liberation! What’s next? A third class of discrimination for Gypsies! What about the Serbian Citizens of Hungarian descent many of the want Independence maybe they should be exclude from the Visa liberazatioin? What about the Muslims of Sanjak? This is blatant racism! The EU will hide behind the words “living on the disputed territory”, which they will argue includes Kosovo citizens of Serbian descent, which in fact would be a form of soft Ethnic cleansing of the remaining Serbs in Kosovo. But however you package this disgusting proposal it is blatant racism! Serbian Citizens of Albanian descent born on the territory of Kosovo were born with a birth right to Serbian citizenship and should have the ability to exercise this citizenship the same as Serbian Citizens of Serbian descent that were born on the territory of Kosovo. Even if you believe the IUDI of Kosovo is valid the Atashri plan called for dual citizenship. Was this dual citizenship for only Kosovo citizens of Serbian descent? Is this the EU’s Progressive Liberal definition of Multiethnic society? The EU’s policy in the Balkans has been consistent with blatant racist isolation of Muslim communities in ghettos so they can deny them entry into the EU! Can Albanian citizens of Albanian travel freely throughout Europe? Their territory is not disputed? Why has Turkey waited so long with no prospect in sight for joining the EU, even though it has been a loyal and herculean defender of European valves as a member of NATO! The republic of Georgia has plenty of support for joining the EU, even though its borders are in dispute, but Turkey is still not ready! What the difference, is it that Georgia is a Christian Nation? I guess Turkish citizens can die for European values in various NATO adventures, but cannot participate in the fruits of civil and economic integration.
For an extreme example, in the Southwestern United States there is an organization called AZTALAN that advocates the secession of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas based on the historical rights of its citizens of Mexican descent. Lets hypothetically say that the majority of EU countries support their effort as they do in Kosovo, should the EU preclude entry to these Mexicans (but allow the American residents entry) until this dispute is settled? This would be ludicrous. This example is in the extreme, but by analogy exposes the hypocrisy of the EU. The EU policies are blatantly racists, at best neo colonist and at worst neo fascist.
Serbia is the most multi ethnic republic of the former Yugoslav republics and must protect all its citizens’ rights. The disenfranchisement of citizens’ rights by western policies must stop! All former citizens of Yugoslavia were disenfranchised of rights. In the former Yugoslavia, citizens of Albanian descent from Serbia’s Kosovo province could within his or her full rights relocate to the Yugoslav Republic of Slovenia and establish a new life, open a store, buy a home and enjoy full citizenship. Now under the progressive EU policies this same individual cannot even travel to Slovenia! The same can be said for Bosnia Muslims or Bosnian Serbs or Bosnian Croats or Montenegrins or Croatians or Vojvodina Hungarians or Sanjak Muslims or Vlachs or Goraini or Ashakli or Turks as well as Serbians. Is this a Liberal progressive notion of multi ethnic Rights? Please do not misunderstand my argument. I am not advocating the reformation of Yugoslavia. Too much blood has been shed by all peoples of the former Yugoslavia for any such reformation, but that is exactly what the EU proposes with EU integration? Supposedly, it will be like it used to be!
But how can this be achieved when they continue to formant division based on ethnicity and double standards. In Bosnia, a basket case of a country with a viceroy, with two entities , three official virtually identical languages, four flags and three ethnic groups that barely recognize each other must be centralized and do not possess the right to self determination! While in Serbia, ethnic groups have to decentralized, be regionalized and with only one group - Albanians possessing the right to succeed? In Kosovo, under the atashri plan independence and multi ethnicity are defined as a European Viceroy, a foreign occupying army and a foreign run justice system written into the constitution and two distinct communities that don’t interact and are stuffed in separate ghettos. In Montenegro a population of 650 thousand has the right to independence and to disenfranchise it Serbian citizenry and church properties? But double this population in Republica Srpska does not have this right to independence, even though their existence is constantly threatened by the west. What if the Bosnian Muslims wanted to succeed from the other two communities in Bosnia, would the west still have the same policy it applies to Republica Srpska? I think not, that would not be progressive and it would facilitate easer isolation of Muslim communities that they could then tell they are not quite ready for EU but certainly can join NATO! Their youth would certainly be needed in Afghanistan. In Croatia, a country on the brink of economic meltdown due to foreign debt, which has been allowed to ethnically cleanse 15% of its population that has left whole swats of it territory devoid of population, is also not ready for the EU. Ironically Croatia is now spending huge sums of money trying to convince Serbians to come and visit the Dalmatian coast just like they used too, since western tourist have become bored with Dalmatia’s rocky beaches. By the way how long before it is considered progressive by the EU for Dalmatia or Istra to be regionalized like Vojvodina? You know Istra and Dalmatia have distinctly different history than the rest of Croatia. Just like Vojvodina. That way they could control more of their hard earned tourist money and be more easely exploited. In Slovenia, that progressive EU country that’s a gateway country to the exploitation of former Yugoslav Republics, why is there still tens of thousands of residents that were stripped of their citizenship, waiting in legal limbo while the courts sort out the mess. They are in the EU right? You think that should have all been resolved right? How did they enter the EU if they still had border disputes with Croatia? Should Croatia have to give up their legitimate claim to the border for entry into the EU? In Macedonia, well that’s a different story, they have a direct link to Alexander the Great and as such are Ancient Greeks, however their Albanian population should have special dispensation just like Albanians of Kosovo and not be allowed to travel to European countries. That would make sense, since the EU is applying this two tiered Visa Liberation for Serbia I am sure they will apply the same standards to Macedonia.
The EU was built on equal rights and equal integration of all member nations populations based on economic parameters. However, this certainly has not been the policy in the Balkans. The EU policy in the Balkans has been infused with racial, social, economic and political double standards and hypocrisy primarily based on economic exploitation. I will remind all former citizens of Yugoslavia regardless of which republic you identify with that World War Two lasted only five years, here we are almost twenty years after the breakup of Yugoslavia and nothing seems resolved. Can any republic claim the majority of its citizens are better off economically than before the break up? Some certainly are but vast majority have been sold down the river by former communists turned nationalists turned democrats turned whorecrats, I am sorry I meant Eurocrats. Twenty years later and still no reconciliation has been achieved between the various peoples of Yugoslavia. It’s just easier to blame Milosevic for everything, he is omnipresent you know. The EU and America had no contributory influence. Likewise, Franjo, Alja, Harris, Milo, Gotovina, Adem , Hashim, Hardenjia, Oric, Mesic, Kardizic and all the rest of cast of cartoon characters that were just innocent bystanders controlled by that ever omnipresent Milosevic! For me living in the west this break up has had some benefits; I used to only speak two languages, English and Serbo-Croatian, now my CV lists Bosnian/Herzegovina(a Three for one Language- Bosniak, Croatian and Serbian) , Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Montenegrin, Macedonian(you know that ancient Greek language)and maybe soon to be added if the EU has it way Kosovian (Serbian is one of two official languages ), Vojvodinian, Sanjakian, maybe Dalmatian and Istrian, then again why not Slavonian, Sremian, Shumadjian, Zlatiborian, Banatian , Herzog Bosnian and considering the population growth maybe Sarajavian and Belgradeian. That would be ideal for the EU, more little nations to economically exploit, but of course they would strive to make them multi ethnic bastions of democracy that the EU is promoting in Kosovo. Then they could apply varying degrees Visa liberation depending on how many Muslims resides in each nation. It Disgusting! Enough is enough.
Serbia must protect all its citizens including citizens of Kosovo, of whatever ethnicity and religion, regardless of the EU Racists Policies. Many Kosovo Albanians will exercise their citizenship rights. Some will not, those that chose not exercise their rights of citizenship will soon realize that the EU only offers subjugation and colonialization called Conditional Independence and will return to the negotiating table and negotiate a final settlement. Whatever that final settlement looks like it will be negotiated and not unilaterally imposed. That would ensure closure unlike the present legal limbo. Heck with creative negotiations, assurances and concessions maybe a referendum of independence can be achieved. However, the present policies by the EU and Western Powers, infused with double standards and hypocrisy, applied inconsistently primarily in Bosnia and Kosovo are a recipe for further unrest that I sadly fear could be bloodier than the previous decade.

Oh! Thank you very much EU. Soon we will all be rich and prosperous. I´m sittning here waiting for you!

Norway are NOT joining €U, not now not any time soon. Bankrupt Iceland rejected the Russian loan and has choosen to have it´s fish-rich water vacuum-cleaned by €U, bad choise...stop being ridiculous. Other free countries especially Serbia should stay just the beautiful way they are in order to avoid mass unemployment poverty and privatizations.

After Iceland joins the EU, Norwegian politicians might begin to consider EU membership as an option for their country.

Serbia should follow the example of Iceland.
(Mircea, 23 July 2009 10:54)

This is planet earth....Norway will never consider joining the EU. It has the second highest GDP in Europe. Only Luxembourg's is higher. In discussion with Norwegian friends and family they are more content away from the all the crap that comes with membership.

As for Serbia joining!Why be part of a club whose majority assisted in bombing you and who jump at the command of the usa.

Mircea,

What has Romania achieved since joining this illustrious club. Maybe your GDP is slightly better but for the majority of your residents life has not changed.

Dear Dan-Ch
I am happy that you are able to travel as a Swiss citizen. But I am sure that you don’t quite feel like an equal citizen of Switzerland. Those progressive Swiss gave you a passport, but you really are not Swiss in their eyes are you? That’s the point! In Westerners eyes all Balkan peoples are just not quite up to par to sophisticated cultured westerns and need to be subjugated and exploited. Albanian Kosovars rail against the Previous Serbian abuses, but all that you have done is traded one master for another! Until all Balkan peoples realize that the West is not as altruistic as they try to present themselves, but rather act only in exploitive self interest, can they truly free themselves. In other words, reconciliation among Balkan peoples of all previous evils, by all sides regardless of motivations or rationalizations is the first step in shedding the stifling subjugation of history that the West exploits. Then we will be able to see that there is more that binds us than separates us. The West thrives on chaos, they profit from conflict, they never solve problems only perpetuate them. I challenge you to give me an example where the West entered a conflict situation, solved the problems and LEFT the region in peace and stability; Korea? IRAQ? Palestine? Afghanistan? Pakistan? Bosnia? But the key thing is they don’t leave! Heck there are still occupying forces in Japan and Germany. The point is they only leave when they are driven out or the local combatants solve their own problems and they become irrelevant with no profits in sight. Since nobody in the Balkans has the power to drive them out, then the only solution is through negotiations to solve our own problems. Then all Balkan Peoples regardless of ethnicity or religion will be able to enter this fabled magical EU on equal footing with westerners. Otherwise they will always be considered second class citizens not really quite up to par western citizens and always needing their tutelage. Realization of this western peculiarity of superiority to everybody that’s different can be quite liberating that you can apply to your own life in Switzerland. Look that blond haired blue eyed Swiss compatriot in the eye and demand he treat you equally, don’t be so grateful they gave you citizenship that they confuse gratitude with subservience. I have personally found that they respect arrogance much more than gratitude, that’s when they truly accept you as an equal citizen. They always seem to confuse gratitude with subservience. So be careful, continually relying on their tutelage will only enslave the other half of Kosovo’s population that has not been as fortunate as you. Only local solutions bourne of compromise, negotiations and reconciliation can free all Balkan peoples of subservience to the West. Then maybe someday you and I can meet in Prizen, my family originally hails from Prizen, and have a civilized discussion on the finer points of history over a cup of tea. I believe your people drink tea traditionally, right? Otherwise, if we allow the West to perpetuate the animosity that exist between all communities in the Balkans, I sadly fear we are just wait for the extremists on all sides to begin the next round of bloody retributions. We will all circle the wagons in our respective communities, regardless how irrational and the West of course will be vindicated in the need to subjugate people so primitive!
Cheers
Legaleye

Our Government is getting more commical day by day. Tadic must have begged Oli Rehn to say something positive about our 'imminent' entrance in the dog-house of Europe. And Oli have responded. The newest 'success' of our famous diplomacy (read it- humiliation)is that we have backing of this gentleman, for 'serbian prospects'- not for Serbia itself.
Stay tuned for the next episode of this hillarious soap opera.