Rehn urges Serbia's "European path"

“The EU wants Serbia to avoid self-isolation and choose the European path at the elections, and also wishes to help Kosovo stand on its own,” says Olli Rehn. “Should it succeed in overcoming the challenges brought about by Kosovo’s status and the elections in Serbia, South Eastern Europe has a shining, European future,” said the European enlargement commissioner at a conference in Brussels on civil society in South Eastern Europe that he opened together with the American businessman George Soros. Rehn urges Serbia's "European path" Rehn said that, “if the problems concerning Kosovo’s status and democratic stability in Serbia are successfully overcome,” the Western Balkans will have “a radiant future within the European Union.” Speaking about the role of civil society in the Western Balkans and Turkey, he stressed that the countries of the region, by intensifying reforms, had the potential to accelerate EU integration processes. The EU supported that progress and was fully committed to the European future of the Western Balkans, stressed the commissioner. He stressed that “Serbia plays a crucial role in stability and good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans.” “Serbia again approaches a crucial decision at the May 11 elections, and the Serbian people have to choose if they want to head for a European future, or to expose themselves to the danger of self-isolation,” said Rehn, and expressed his hope that “Serbia will choose Europe.” Speaking of Kosovo, the European commissioner said that “Kosovo’s choice for a democratic and multi-ethnic society is enshrined within the recently adopted constitution.” “The EU supports Kosovo in standing on its own, and wants to help Kosovo help itself. That is ultimately the goal of our economic and social development program, and that is the task of the EU Mission to Kosovo, EULEX,” explained Rehn. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica wants to hear a response from Brussels to his request for an annex regarding Kosovo in the SAA’s text. Kostunica wants to know if it is realistic for the EU to alter the text of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia to include a sentence stating that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbia. The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader told daily Danas that the citizens of Serbia had to know the answer to this question because nothing could remain covered up. “Serbia and every one of its citizens must know exactly what we are signing with the EU, and whether we are signing Kosovo’s independence and continued European integration at the same time,” Kostunica insisted. Olli Rehn (Beta, archive)

Rehn urges Serbia's "European path"

Rehn said that, “if the problems concerning Kosovo’s status and democratic stability in Serbia are successfully overcome,” the Western Balkans will have “a radiant future within the European Union.”

Speaking about the role of civil society in the Western Balkans and Turkey, he stressed that the countries of the region, by intensifying reforms, had the potential to accelerate EU integration processes.

The EU supported that progress and was fully committed to the European future of the Western Balkans, stressed the commissioner.

He stressed that “Serbia plays a crucial role in stability and good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans.”

“Serbia again approaches a crucial decision at the May 11 elections, and the Serbian people have to choose if they want to head for a European future, or to expose themselves to the danger of self-isolation,” said Rehn, and expressed his hope that “Serbia will choose Europe.”

Speaking of Kosovo, the European commissioner said that “Kosovo’s choice for a democratic and multi-ethnic society is enshrined within the recently adopted constitution.”

“The EU supports Kosovo in standing on its own, and wants to help Kosovo help itself. That is ultimately the goal of our economic and social development program, and that is the task of the EU Mission to Kosovo, EULEX,” explained Rehn.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica wants to hear a response from Brussels to his request for an annex regarding Kosovo in the SAA’s text.

Koštunica wants to know if it is realistic for the EU to alter the text of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia to include a sentence stating that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbia.

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader told daily Danas that the citizens of Serbia had to know the answer to this question because nothing could remain covered up.

“Serbia and every one of its citizens must know exactly what we are signing with the EU, and whether we are signing Kosovo’s independence and continued European integration at the same time,” Koštunica insisted.