EP on interim trade agreement

1. "EP hopes that the process of decentralization in Kosovo will be finished by the end of the year, "in order to meet the demands of the Ahtisaari plan""

2. "the rule of law, public order and security throughout Kosovo".

Any clearer messages? I think they are clear enough, status neutral :)

However, Serbia has been unilaterally applying the interim agreement since the start of this year.
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Yes, unilaterally giving the EU €500 million while taking out loans to support the budget. The interim trade agreement better be implemented otherwise this government will look extremely foolish. I suspect the plan, as usual, is to get all of these countries into as much debt as possible and have them slavishly work for Brussels. Although Serbia still has some way to go before catching up to countries like Romania, it needs to loan wisely.

Bring in the trade agreement and visa free travel but I can't see any other benefit beyond that.

"however that issue has already been resolved by Russia, China, Serbia, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania blocking it. It's a done deal as they say."
---
Zoran just missed the biggest line from the story:
"calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association". "

Does Serbia have any conflicts it needs to resolve? EU is a dead end unless...

Serbs ruling over their small munis is no big deal, they're only 5% of the population and must rule in accordance with the Kosovo constitution.

Any clearer messages? I think they are clear enough, status neutral :)
(ArTa, 25 November 2009 10:33)
--
Exactly what is being implemented that is working against Serbia's interests? The biggest issue with the Attisaari plan is this supposed "supervised independence" however that issue has already been resolved by Russia, China, Serbia, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania blocking it. It's a done deal as they say.

There are some aspects of this plan that favour Serbians and if our ethnic Albanian citizens want to implement them unilaterally then fine, I'm not one to complain.

Essentially, we allow your parallel institutions to function and you are now acknowledging our legitimate institutions. In other words and for obvious reasons, the EU does not want ethnic Albanians ruling over Serbians.

If you'd like to look at it from another angle, since independence is irreversibly blocked we are actually implementing more than autonomy, less than independence. The EU and US cannot provide anymore than what Serbia is offering.

or they will say that Cyprus got in EU eventhough it is a frozen conflict.

Amer, it's only our ethnic Albanian citizens that have excluded themselves from visa free travel. Serbians from Kosovo only need to travel to Belgrade to get their passports. Serbians from BiH are also included in this deal.

Mircea, yes and that's the way it should be otherwise Serbia will experience a brain drain at a time it doesn't need one.

I have returned from the West to live in Serbia and to help my country. I would encourage others to do the same. I wouldn't like to see our brightest leave Serbia only be be employed as toilet cleaners or factory workers in the EU.

Zoran,

Serbian citizens will still need a visa to enter the UK and Ireland after the visa free deal enters into force.

Romanian citizens only need their identity card to enter the UK and Ireland.

Serbs ruling over their small munis is no big deal, they're only 5% of the population and must rule in accordance with the Kosovo constitution.
(aRta, 25 November 2009 11:39)
You are wrong Arta - Serbs consists about 70% of Republic of Serbia population and Albanians - about 20%.
So - Albanians as Republic of Serbia minority must rule in accordance with the Republic of Serbia constitution.

Arta,

They will say we dont need EU, we have Russia. ICJ oh this one not any longer, But they will interpret this article differently.

This shows the way EU sees Kosovo not just USA, many times they say US will leave and Serbian Army will return.

But I think we have to find Solution with North.

Zoran just missed the biggest line from the story:
"calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association". "
(aRta, 25 November 2009 11:39)
--
The only neighbour I can see blocking Serbia is Croatia and I hope it does. The more obstacles we have the better.

After visa free travel and the free trade agreement there are no more benefits. Free travel to the UK and Ireland will come within 2 years but we are better off spending our money in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania.

Now thanks to those five, the EU does not recognise Kosovo as anything but a province of Serbia.

Look, it's the divisions within the EU that are creating obstacles and after we get visa free travel and the free trade agreement, we're all done.

Romanian citizens only need their identity card to enter the UK and Ireland.
(Mircea, 25 November 2009 13:54)

If you are interested, pls look a bit outside of your box and try to find out what Europeans think about the romanian "workers" that travelled thru out the EU.

'The EU and US cannot provide anymore than what Serbia is offering.
(Zoran, 25 November 2009 11:03) '

And "what Serbia is offering" keeps getting better and better - recently, recognition of a border between Kosovo and Serbia, non-inclusion of Serbians living in Kosovo in the visa-free regime. They give up something for every step on the path to EU membership, and there will be many, many of these steps.

Serbian citizens will not have the right to settle and work in EU Member States.
(Mircea, 25 November 2009 18:10)

Well fortune teller Mircea, we already have abt 200thds in Switzerland, registered, working, some of them having Swiss passports, so don't you worry we'll welcome all!!

Amer, why would you think Serbia is preventing ethnic Albanians from entering the EU when it was Serbia that wanted them to have the same privilege as any other citizen?

It's not Serbia but the EU keeping ethnic Albanians lock in prison camp "Kosova".

Since the bombing of Yugo by Nato this resolution is the most anti serbian politically. One has to read it in its entirity to see how dangerous really is. Not that expects Serbia to recognize Kosovo but even its ascusition into EU depends on that decision. Resolution goes so far as to suggest that Kosovo may enter EU as is just as Cyprus did even as a "frozen conflict zone".

Zoran,

The visa free deal will only allow Serbian citizens to travel to EU Member States as tourists.

Serbian citizens will not have the right to settle and work in EU Member States.

'Amer, it's only our ethnic Albanian citizens that have excluded themselves from visa free travel. Serbians from Kosovo only need to travel to Belgrade to get their passports. Serbians from BiH are also included in this deal. '

The point isn't who will have access to visa-free travel, but that Serbia had to back down after insisting that Kosovo, as a part of Serbia, would be automatically included in an agreement pertaining to Serbia.

Kosovo will be getting a deal of its own, once it meets the usual criteria. Serbia is managing to make things temporarily more difficult, but it can't prevent them forever.

Since the bombing of Yugo by Nato this resolution is the most anti serbian politically. One has to read it in its entirity to see how dangerous really is. Not that expects Serbia to recognize Kosovo but even its ascusition into EU depends on that decision. Resolution goes so far as to suggest that Kosovo may enter EU as is just as Cyprus did even as a "frozen conflict zone".
(Mirub Jager, 25 November 2009 21:55)

Yes that is true, but the document was written in 1999. This is 2009 soon to be 2010. There is an old Serbian saying ‘paper tolerates everything written on it”. If today was identical to 1999 then Kosovo would be part of the EU without Serbia and there would be no question, but the situation is completely different and that piece of paper is only good for recycling now.
Cyprus is completely different, the Greek side is in the EU, but the Turks are out. Does this not disturb you at all? Here are your EU friends ‘protecting’ you, but you traditional supporter, Turkey, is left out in the cold as well as the northern part of Cyprus.
Gee, if I have friends like that I would not need enemies.

1. "EP hopes that the process of decentralization in Kosovo will be finished by the end of the year, "in order to meet the demands of the Ahtisaari plan""

2. "the rule of law, public order and security throughout Kosovo".

Any clearer messages? I think they are clear enough, status neutral :)

Any clearer messages? I think they are clear enough, status neutral :)
(ArTa, 25 November 2009 10:33)
--
Exactly what is being implemented that is working against Serbia's interests? The biggest issue with the Attisaari plan is this supposed "supervised independence" however that issue has already been resolved by Russia, China, Serbia, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania blocking it. It's a done deal as they say.

There are some aspects of this plan that favour Serbians and if our ethnic Albanian citizens want to implement them unilaterally then fine, I'm not one to complain.

Essentially, we allow your parallel institutions to function and you are now acknowledging our legitimate institutions. In other words and for obvious reasons, the EU does not want ethnic Albanians ruling over Serbians.

If you'd like to look at it from another angle, since independence is irreversibly blocked we are actually implementing more than autonomy, less than independence. The EU and US cannot provide anymore than what Serbia is offering.

or they will say that Cyprus got in EU eventhough it is a frozen conflict.

Serbs ruling over their small munis is no big deal, they're only 5% of the population and must rule in accordance with the Kosovo constitution.
(aRta, 25 November 2009 11:39)
You are wrong Arta - Serbs consists about 70% of Republic of Serbia population and Albanians - about 20%.
So - Albanians as Republic of Serbia minority must rule in accordance with the Republic of Serbia constitution.

However, Serbia has been unilaterally applying the interim agreement since the start of this year.
--
Yes, unilaterally giving the EU €500 million while taking out loans to support the budget. The interim trade agreement better be implemented otherwise this government will look extremely foolish. I suspect the plan, as usual, is to get all of these countries into as much debt as possible and have them slavishly work for Brussels. Although Serbia still has some way to go before catching up to countries like Romania, it needs to loan wisely.

Bring in the trade agreement and visa free travel but I can't see any other benefit beyond that.

Zoran just missed the biggest line from the story:
"calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association". "
(aRta, 25 November 2009 11:39)
--
The only neighbour I can see blocking Serbia is Croatia and I hope it does. The more obstacles we have the better.

After visa free travel and the free trade agreement there are no more benefits. Free travel to the UK and Ireland will come within 2 years but we are better off spending our money in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania.

Now thanks to those five, the EU does not recognise Kosovo as anything but a province of Serbia.

Look, it's the divisions within the EU that are creating obstacles and after we get visa free travel and the free trade agreement, we're all done.

"however that issue has already been resolved by Russia, China, Serbia, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania blocking it. It's a done deal as they say."
---
Zoran just missed the biggest line from the story:
"calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association". "

Does Serbia have any conflicts it needs to resolve? EU is a dead end unless...

Serbs ruling over their small munis is no big deal, they're only 5% of the population and must rule in accordance with the Kosovo constitution.

Zoran,

Serbian citizens will still need a visa to enter the UK and Ireland after the visa free deal enters into force.

Romanian citizens only need their identity card to enter the UK and Ireland.

Arta,

They will say we dont need EU, we have Russia. ICJ oh this one not any longer, But they will interpret this article differently.

This shows the way EU sees Kosovo not just USA, many times they say US will leave and Serbian Army will return.

But I think we have to find Solution with North.

Serbian citizens will not have the right to settle and work in EU Member States.
(Mircea, 25 November 2009 18:10)

Well fortune teller Mircea, we already have abt 200thds in Switzerland, registered, working, some of them having Swiss passports, so don't you worry we'll welcome all!!

Amer, why would you think Serbia is preventing ethnic Albanians from entering the EU when it was Serbia that wanted them to have the same privilege as any other citizen?

It's not Serbia but the EU keeping ethnic Albanians lock in prison camp "Kosova".

Zoran,

The visa free deal will only allow Serbian citizens to travel to EU Member States as tourists.

Serbian citizens will not have the right to settle and work in EU Member States.

Romanian citizens only need their identity card to enter the UK and Ireland.
(Mircea, 25 November 2009 13:54)

If you are interested, pls look a bit outside of your box and try to find out what Europeans think about the romanian "workers" that travelled thru out the EU.

'The EU and US cannot provide anymore than what Serbia is offering.
(Zoran, 25 November 2009 11:03) '

And "what Serbia is offering" keeps getting better and better - recently, recognition of a border between Kosovo and Serbia, non-inclusion of Serbians living in Kosovo in the visa-free regime. They give up something for every step on the path to EU membership, and there will be many, many of these steps.

Amer, it's only our ethnic Albanian citizens that have excluded themselves from visa free travel. Serbians from Kosovo only need to travel to Belgrade to get their passports. Serbians from BiH are also included in this deal.

Mircea, yes and that's the way it should be otherwise Serbia will experience a brain drain at a time it doesn't need one.

I have returned from the West to live in Serbia and to help my country. I would encourage others to do the same. I wouldn't like to see our brightest leave Serbia only be be employed as toilet cleaners or factory workers in the EU.

'Amer, it's only our ethnic Albanian citizens that have excluded themselves from visa free travel. Serbians from Kosovo only need to travel to Belgrade to get their passports. Serbians from BiH are also included in this deal. '

The point isn't who will have access to visa-free travel, but that Serbia had to back down after insisting that Kosovo, as a part of Serbia, would be automatically included in an agreement pertaining to Serbia.

Kosovo will be getting a deal of its own, once it meets the usual criteria. Serbia is managing to make things temporarily more difficult, but it can't prevent them forever.

Since the bombing of Yugo by Nato this resolution is the most anti serbian politically. One has to read it in its entirity to see how dangerous really is. Not that expects Serbia to recognize Kosovo but even its ascusition into EU depends on that decision. Resolution goes so far as to suggest that Kosovo may enter EU as is just as Cyprus did even as a "frozen conflict zone".

Since the bombing of Yugo by Nato this resolution is the most anti serbian politically. One has to read it in its entirity to see how dangerous really is. Not that expects Serbia to recognize Kosovo but even its ascusition into EU depends on that decision. Resolution goes so far as to suggest that Kosovo may enter EU as is just as Cyprus did even as a "frozen conflict zone".
(Mirub Jager, 25 November 2009 21:55)

Yes that is true, but the document was written in 1999. This is 2009 soon to be 2010. There is an old Serbian saying ‘paper tolerates everything written on it”. If today was identical to 1999 then Kosovo would be part of the EU without Serbia and there would be no question, but the situation is completely different and that piece of paper is only good for recycling now.
Cyprus is completely different, the Greek side is in the EU, but the Turks are out. Does this not disturb you at all? Here are your EU friends ‘protecting’ you, but you traditional supporter, Turkey, is left out in the cold as well as the northern part of Cyprus.
Gee, if I have friends like that I would not need enemies.