PM Dačić in Brussels for meetings with EU officials

I think the European Council will set a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations in December 2013.

What do others think?

I wonder why somebody think that a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations will not be set in 2012, but rather in 2013. What will have changed by 2013? In the other words what is the difference between 2012 and 2013? Does it mean that according to someone's opinion Serbia won't recognize Kosovo in 2012, but will do it in 2013? (may be it is supposed to be implisit recognition)

Mircea
Have you seen how many Romanians sleep
rough in EU cities?I have seen quite a number
and is not a nice spectacle.

"If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2014 the country will probably join the EU in 2022.
(Mircea EU citizen, 4 September 2012 13:09)"

assuming, of course, that the EU is still around in 2022.

I actually think that the EU will be quite impressed by Dacic's climbdowns on Kosovo, but that it won't be enough. No doubt he will promise to do more but and will tell them that the Serbian people need more time to 'compromise' - ie give in over Kosovo.

Dacic is wrong in thinking that this and the odd investigation in dubious privatisations is going to get him a fast track membership to the EU though.

In my opinion he is also wrong in thinking that Kosovo is a non issue that he can do what he likes with. He is banking on the fact that the main opposition party - DS will not object too much if he sells the Kosovo Serbs down the river and that other parties are too small to have any impact in their objections. That is a risky calculation and although for example somebody like Djilas is not a nationalist, Djilas could well decide that politically it would sensible to take up a more nationalistic position on Kosovo, which would make it very difficult for the government. Things could flare up easily at some point, although Dacic's would count on his putting out fires style of management control which would mean populisticaly supporting one position one day, supporting another position on another day and saying something else behind closed doors to EU officials.

"All countries in the region have the possibility to follow Croatia's example if they work hard and fulfil the criteria."

Croatia started accession negotiations with the EU in October 2005 and will join the EU on 1 July 2013.

If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2014 the country will probably join the EU in 2022.

"of course and there are many other assumptions, like Halley's Comet does not collide with Earth, etc...
(icj1, 7 September 2012 04:25)"

well, according to a couple of online articles, Halley's Comet is scheduled to appear near Earth next around 2061. Mircea and I were talking 2022. And so what is the relevance of your point, exactly?

assuming, of course, that the EU is still around in 2022.
(lowe, 4 September 2012 14:11)

of course and there are many other assumptions, like Halley's Comet does not collide with Earth, etc...

I think the European Council will set a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations in December 2013.

What do others think?

"All countries in the region have the possibility to follow Croatia's example if they work hard and fulfil the criteria."

Croatia started accession negotiations with the EU in October 2005 and will join the EU on 1 July 2013.

If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2014 the country will probably join the EU in 2022.

"If Serbia begins accession negotiations in 2014 the country will probably join the EU in 2022.
(Mircea EU citizen, 4 September 2012 13:09)"

assuming, of course, that the EU is still around in 2022.

I wonder why somebody think that a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations will not be set in 2012, but rather in 2013. What will have changed by 2013? In the other words what is the difference between 2012 and 2013? Does it mean that according to someone's opinion Serbia won't recognize Kosovo in 2012, but will do it in 2013? (may be it is supposed to be implisit recognition)

I actually think that the EU will be quite impressed by Dacic's climbdowns on Kosovo, but that it won't be enough. No doubt he will promise to do more but and will tell them that the Serbian people need more time to 'compromise' - ie give in over Kosovo.

Dacic is wrong in thinking that this and the odd investigation in dubious privatisations is going to get him a fast track membership to the EU though.

In my opinion he is also wrong in thinking that Kosovo is a non issue that he can do what he likes with. He is banking on the fact that the main opposition party - DS will not object too much if he sells the Kosovo Serbs down the river and that other parties are too small to have any impact in their objections. That is a risky calculation and although for example somebody like Djilas is not a nationalist, Djilas could well decide that politically it would sensible to take up a more nationalistic position on Kosovo, which would make it very difficult for the government. Things could flare up easily at some point, although Dacic's would count on his putting out fires style of management control which would mean populisticaly supporting one position one day, supporting another position on another day and saying something else behind closed doors to EU officials.

Mircea
Have you seen how many Romanians sleep
rough in EU cities?I have seen quite a number
and is not a nice spectacle.

assuming, of course, that the EU is still around in 2022.
(lowe, 4 September 2012 14:11)

of course and there are many other assumptions, like Halley's Comet does not collide with Earth, etc...

"of course and there are many other assumptions, like Halley's Comet does not collide with Earth, etc...
(icj1, 7 September 2012 04:25)"

well, according to a couple of online articles, Halley's Comet is scheduled to appear near Earth next around 2061. Mircea and I were talking 2022. And so what is the relevance of your point, exactly?