FM: Candidacy decision after consultations

My goodness, some people are just full of hatred. Weren't you guys saying that Serbia would have to recognise Kosovo and pay up before it joined the Schengen white list and had the free trade agreement lifted?

I don't think you realise how important Serbia is to the EU. Croatia has already stated it would not block Serbia's admission but somehow, ethnic Albanians seems to know all of the answers, except they continue to get them consistently wrong.

Now don't get me wrong. I am no fan of Serbia joining the EU but I can sense a strong undercurrent working towards it while this effort is not only coming from Serbia but also the US and EU. They want us in their sphere before it all collapses.

One other thing to keep in mind. "Kosova" doesn't only have a path to the EU, it has in fact been put on the Schengen black list meaning it has no chance of joining, especially after Serbia is in. Sooner or later you will need to come to the negotiating table my fellow citizens. That is where your future lies.

Živeli!

Serbia will appologize to croats and albanians about the same time hell freezes over!

Did the ustashe and nazi albanians appologize for crimes during WW2? Did they pay retribution to all those killed in croat and albanian death camps and for the destruction of property?

Apparently, Serbia has to join the eu very soon in order to make up for all of the war crimes committed against the Serbs by the west in the last 20 years and to keep the Russians out of the Balkans. That is the current us mindset. Since croatia, albania, and macedonia are anti-Russian, they can wait longer.
As a born-in american, it was embarrassing to read the us statement at the ICJ. It was worse than Kosov(o)'s presentation where the albos threatened violence if the decision did not go their way . After threatening, bullying, and bribing all of those countries to recognize
Kosov(o), the us gave the most ridiculous arguments for the UDI while those intimidated countries gave better arguments. You are really looking at the "ugly american" here. First, they send a famous idiot to give the presentation. This guy was a liberal law dean at yale university who politicized the law faculty. Second, he pleads for the court to not give a ruling or rule in favor of the UDI (hey, pick one) because ruling against the UDI will destabilize the Balkans (translated: invalidate us foreign policy). You must understand that military occupation is how the us "stabilizes" the world (hey, that's what both hitler and stalin said). The hypocrisy in that argument is that this guy has been accused of trying to apply international law in us law - now he wants to avoid international law. Third, he plays the "read the fine print" game. He says Resolution 1244 refers to Yugoslavia not Serbia even though he knows Serbia is Yugoslavia - same capital, same UN membership, same membership in other international organizations, etc. Finally, in a desparate attempt at some legalism, he makes a bad attempt at "splitting hairs". He says international law requires countries to respect each other's territorial integrity, but it doesn't require "internal entities" to respect the parent country's territorial integrity. Didn't he admit that Kosov(o) is an "internal entity" Also, didn't he throw Bosnia under the bus - B92, please send a copy of this transcript to Milorad Dodik or, if your us patrons won't give you permission, can you post the RS web address so I can send it? A country that recognizes a UDI by an "internal entity" in another country is actually committing an act of war against the other country.
In conclusion, yesterday, we saw the diplomatic equivalent of a drug-addicted, alcoholic prostitute arguing that she is a clean, sober, virgin. The Economist, a traditionally anti-Serb rag, wrote that if Kosov(o) does not get a complete win here, it will never attract enough foreign investment to give it a viable economy. Hence, the desparation by a bankrupted america.

"with croatia in EU by 2012 serbia efforts to join EU are far away. the next step croatia will do is very big VETO againts serbia to make sure the serbs pay every penny for the destrocution of their country during the war in 1991-1992
(hazel, 9 December 2009 10:03) "

Dream on.

Does serbia join EU with or without kosovo I realy would like what VUK thinks about this.

Mircea, your crystal ball gazing predictions are just worthless.

As for Serbia's accession, the EC has already publicly stated that Serbia can rapidly progress in the accession process. Serbia certainly does have sufficient number of high quality bureaucrats to be able to understand and effectively implement all chapters of the acquis communautaire as opposed to just adopt the laws and not implement cruicial aspects (Ro & Bg for example).

Zoran, the policies thing is a red herring, rather the real question is of the ability of a single or small group of eu member states to block Serbia joining (i.e. what the lovely slovenes did to the croats) = blackmail, hence my point on such a tactic not being possible Croatia on Serbia.

http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/faq/index_en.htm

"...To make it impossible for a very small number of the most populous Member States to prevent a decision from being adopted, a blocking minority must comprise at least four Member States; otherwise, the qualified majority will be deemed to have been reached even if the population criterion is not met..."

The single veto will not exist. They might try the delaying tactic, but again there are rules for this.

with croatia in EU by 2012 serbia efforts to join EU are far away. the next step croatia will do is very big VETO againts serbia to make sure the serbs pay every penny for the destrocution of their country during the war in 1991-1992

Don't worry Hazel, Serbia will apologize and pay reparations for the destruction they wreaked way before getting in EU

Mircea: I think I've asked you this before, but could you end your riveting reports with some sports results and a regional weather prognosis?

Croatia cannot veto Serbia joining the EU, especially if it is not in the EU (it still has some way to go). Treaty of Nice weighting system runs up to nov. 2014, then the transition period to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) under Lisbon starts..."However, during a transitional period up to 31 March 2017, a Member State may still request application of the weighting system laid down in Article 205 of the EC Treaty. And so, if the Union takes in any new Member States between now and 2017, the weighting system will have to be adapted accordingly."

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/531&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Serbia should be ready by then.

Serbia should be ready by then.
(Aleks, 9 December 2009 11:29)
--
Aleks, that document points out the following:
--
Broadly, the Lisbon Treaty does not change policies, or only slightly, in a number of areas including: enlargement policy, regional affairs, competition...
--
In other words, each member will still need to approve other candidates' membership. Also, the EU does not recognise Kosovo, only certain member states do so it is still considered Serbian territory under UN administration. UNSCR 1244 is still in force.

Guys, Mircea is a bot. Microprocessor Instructed Robot Creating European Absurdities.

Serbian officials plan to submit the application for EU candidacy on 22 December.

What are you talking about? Did you actually read my comment?

Aleks,

The European Commission estimates that Croatia will join the EU in 2012 based on the "overall progress" achieved so far in accession negotiations.

In the case of Serbia, I think that accession negotiations will take about 7 years to complete.

If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2011 the country would be ready to join the EU in 2018.

First, let us see if Serbia will apply for EU candidacy on 22 December.

Serbia comes in from the cold with European deals
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/serbia/6772051/Serbia-comes-in-from-the-cold-with-European-deals.html

But Mr Jeremic also gave warning that Serbia's path to respectability could be threatened if Croatia becomes a European state before the rules governing Serbian accession are set down.

"We are crucial to the stability of the western Balkans and it would be dangerous for this process to be hit by deferments," he said. "Serbia is proving that its central promise is to improve stability."

When do you expect Serbia to become an EU Member State? In 2012 with Croatia and Iceland?
(Mircea, 9 December 2009 20:59)

Certainly earlier than your broken record...

Any forcast about Vancouver 2010?

Aleks,

The accession negotiations with the EU are not easy. You will see when Serbia will begin the negotiations.

"In conclusion, yesterday, we saw the diplomatic equivalent of a drug-addicted, alcoholic prostitute arguing that she is a clean, sober, virgin." (JohnBoy)

-- Dammit, that's funny :)

I hope the EU stagnates before Serbia joins.

Guys, Croatia is the last catholic country and they will get in. God help the rest, there is a gentleman's agreement on waiting for quite a few years after Cro and Iceland

Aleks,

You seem to think that it will be easy for Serbia to join the EU.

When do you expect Serbia to become an EU Member State? In 2012 with Croatia and Iceland?

why are ganging up on poor MIrica here. Just because u dont like what she says be civil please.

Serbia is petrified to Have Croatia block them, they will not stop you from Joining but for sure delay, delay delay.

Off topic Congrats on World Cup I think u have a great chance this time that defence seems amazing.

Cheers

Mircea,

Clearly you did neither read nor understood my comments.

Please quote me where I wrote it would "be easier for Serbia to join"?

Why should I pick a date? You know the phrase 'a week is a long time in politics', doubly so with regards to the Balkans. The crystal ball predictions are all yours.

Don't worry Hazel, Serbia will apologize and pay reparations for the destruction they wreaked way before getting in EU

with croatia in EU by 2012 serbia efforts to join EU are far away. the next step croatia will do is very big VETO againts serbia to make sure the serbs pay every penny for the destrocution of their country during the war in 1991-1992

Serbian officials plan to submit the application for EU candidacy on 22 December.

"with croatia in EU by 2012 serbia efforts to join EU are far away. the next step croatia will do is very big VETO againts serbia to make sure the serbs pay every penny for the destrocution of their country during the war in 1991-1992
(hazel, 9 December 2009 10:03) "

Dream on.

Serbia will appologize to croats and albanians about the same time hell freezes over!

Did the ustashe and nazi albanians appologize for crimes during WW2? Did they pay retribution to all those killed in croat and albanian death camps and for the destruction of property?

Mircea: I think I've asked you this before, but could you end your riveting reports with some sports results and a regional weather prognosis?

Aleks,

The accession negotiations with the EU are not easy. You will see when Serbia will begin the negotiations.

My goodness, some people are just full of hatred. Weren't you guys saying that Serbia would have to recognise Kosovo and pay up before it joined the Schengen white list and had the free trade agreement lifted?

I don't think you realise how important Serbia is to the EU. Croatia has already stated it would not block Serbia's admission but somehow, ethnic Albanians seems to know all of the answers, except they continue to get them consistently wrong.

Now don't get me wrong. I am no fan of Serbia joining the EU but I can sense a strong undercurrent working towards it while this effort is not only coming from Serbia but also the US and EU. They want us in their sphere before it all collapses.

One other thing to keep in mind. "Kosova" doesn't only have a path to the EU, it has in fact been put on the Schengen black list meaning it has no chance of joining, especially after Serbia is in. Sooner or later you will need to come to the negotiating table my fellow citizens. That is where your future lies.

Živeli!

Aleks,

The European Commission estimates that Croatia will join the EU in 2012 based on the "overall progress" achieved so far in accession negotiations.

In the case of Serbia, I think that accession negotiations will take about 7 years to complete.

If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2011 the country would be ready to join the EU in 2018.

First, let us see if Serbia will apply for EU candidacy on 22 December.

Guys, Mircea is a bot. Microprocessor Instructed Robot Creating European Absurdities.

Croatia cannot veto Serbia joining the EU, especially if it is not in the EU (it still has some way to go). Treaty of Nice weighting system runs up to nov. 2014, then the transition period to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) under Lisbon starts..."However, during a transitional period up to 31 March 2017, a Member State may still request application of the weighting system laid down in Article 205 of the EC Treaty. And so, if the Union takes in any new Member States between now and 2017, the weighting system will have to be adapted accordingly."

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/531&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Serbia should be ready by then.

Mircea, your crystal ball gazing predictions are just worthless.

As for Serbia's accession, the EC has already publicly stated that Serbia can rapidly progress in the accession process. Serbia certainly does have sufficient number of high quality bureaucrats to be able to understand and effectively implement all chapters of the acquis communautaire as opposed to just adopt the laws and not implement cruicial aspects (Ro & Bg for example).

Zoran, the policies thing is a red herring, rather the real question is of the ability of a single or small group of eu member states to block Serbia joining (i.e. what the lovely slovenes did to the croats) = blackmail, hence my point on such a tactic not being possible Croatia on Serbia.

http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/faq/index_en.htm

"...To make it impossible for a very small number of the most populous Member States to prevent a decision from being adopted, a blocking minority must comprise at least four Member States; otherwise, the qualified majority will be deemed to have been reached even if the population criterion is not met..."

The single veto will not exist. They might try the delaying tactic, but again there are rules for this.

"In conclusion, yesterday, we saw the diplomatic equivalent of a drug-addicted, alcoholic prostitute arguing that she is a clean, sober, virgin." (JohnBoy)

-- Dammit, that's funny :)

Does serbia join EU with or without kosovo I realy would like what VUK thinks about this.

Serbia should be ready by then.
(Aleks, 9 December 2009 11:29)
--
Aleks, that document points out the following:
--
Broadly, the Lisbon Treaty does not change policies, or only slightly, in a number of areas including: enlargement policy, regional affairs, competition...
--
In other words, each member will still need to approve other candidates' membership. Also, the EU does not recognise Kosovo, only certain member states do so it is still considered Serbian territory under UN administration. UNSCR 1244 is still in force.

What are you talking about? Did you actually read my comment?

Aleks,

You seem to think that it will be easy for Serbia to join the EU.

When do you expect Serbia to become an EU Member State? In 2012 with Croatia and Iceland?

why are ganging up on poor MIrica here. Just because u dont like what she says be civil please.

Serbia is petrified to Have Croatia block them, they will not stop you from Joining but for sure delay, delay delay.

Off topic Congrats on World Cup I think u have a great chance this time that defence seems amazing.

Cheers

When do you expect Serbia to become an EU Member State? In 2012 with Croatia and Iceland?
(Mircea, 9 December 2009 20:59)

Certainly earlier than your broken record...

Any forcast about Vancouver 2010?

Apparently, Serbia has to join the eu very soon in order to make up for all of the war crimes committed against the Serbs by the west in the last 20 years and to keep the Russians out of the Balkans. That is the current us mindset. Since croatia, albania, and macedonia are anti-Russian, they can wait longer.
As a born-in american, it was embarrassing to read the us statement at the ICJ. It was worse than Kosov(o)'s presentation where the albos threatened violence if the decision did not go their way . After threatening, bullying, and bribing all of those countries to recognize
Kosov(o), the us gave the most ridiculous arguments for the UDI while those intimidated countries gave better arguments. You are really looking at the "ugly american" here. First, they send a famous idiot to give the presentation. This guy was a liberal law dean at yale university who politicized the law faculty. Second, he pleads for the court to not give a ruling or rule in favor of the UDI (hey, pick one) because ruling against the UDI will destabilize the Balkans (translated: invalidate us foreign policy). You must understand that military occupation is how the us "stabilizes" the world (hey, that's what both hitler and stalin said). The hypocrisy in that argument is that this guy has been accused of trying to apply international law in us law - now he wants to avoid international law. Third, he plays the "read the fine print" game. He says Resolution 1244 refers to Yugoslavia not Serbia even though he knows Serbia is Yugoslavia - same capital, same UN membership, same membership in other international organizations, etc. Finally, in a desparate attempt at some legalism, he makes a bad attempt at "splitting hairs". He says international law requires countries to respect each other's territorial integrity, but it doesn't require "internal entities" to respect the parent country's territorial integrity. Didn't he admit that Kosov(o) is an "internal entity" Also, didn't he throw Bosnia under the bus - B92, please send a copy of this transcript to Milorad Dodik or, if your us patrons won't give you permission, can you post the RS web address so I can send it? A country that recognizes a UDI by an "internal entity" in another country is actually committing an act of war against the other country.
In conclusion, yesterday, we saw the diplomatic equivalent of a drug-addicted, alcoholic prostitute arguing that she is a clean, sober, virgin. The Economist, a traditionally anti-Serb rag, wrote that if Kosov(o) does not get a complete win here, it will never attract enough foreign investment to give it a viable economy. Hence, the desparation by a bankrupted america.

Guys, Croatia is the last catholic country and they will get in. God help the rest, there is a gentleman's agreement on waiting for quite a few years after Cro and Iceland

Serbia comes in from the cold with European deals
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/serbia/6772051/Serbia-comes-in-from-the-cold-with-European-deals.html

But Mr Jeremic also gave warning that Serbia's path to respectability could be threatened if Croatia becomes a European state before the rules governing Serbian accession are set down.

"We are crucial to the stability of the western Balkans and it would be dangerous for this process to be hit by deferments," he said. "Serbia is proving that its central promise is to improve stability."

I hope the EU stagnates before Serbia joins.

Mircea,

Clearly you did neither read nor understood my comments.

Please quote me where I wrote it would "be easier for Serbia to join"?

Why should I pick a date? You know the phrase 'a week is a long time in politics', doubly so with regards to the Balkans. The crystal ball predictions are all yours.