"Balkan integration process yet to be completed"

The EU considers that the process of the integration of the western Balkans has yet to be completed, the government's EU integrations office head says. A possible slowing down of this process due to the economic crisis, the adopting of the Lisbon Treaty, and other factors should not be discouraging, Milica told Tanjug in Belgrade on Sunday. "Balkan integration process yet to be completed" Both the Serbian government and the EU member-states believe it is necessary to apprehend and extradite the remaining two war crimes indictees to the Hague Tribunal, she said. "A small number of EU countries, primarily the Netherlands, believe these extraditions are necessary prior to moving to the next stage, but most EU members share Serbia's stand that enough has been done to secure the unblocking of the Interim Trade Agreement." "It must be pointed out that Serbia has yet to take many more steps toward the EU, and the member-states will be able to evaluate the cooperation with the Hague before each one," Delevic said. Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will soon again visit Belgrade, she said, expressing hope that his report could contribute to Serbia moving forward into the next phase of its integration with Europe. "As it now seems, the integration of Serbia and other regional countries will additionally depend on the effects and the duration of the global economic crisis, the adopting of the Lisbon Treaty, but also the adaption to the admission of a large number of new states which these days mark five years since they became EU members. All this additionally slows down the process of EU enlargement," Delevic specified. "Nevertheless, none of these factors should be discouraging, because the EU looks upon the process of the integration of the western Balkans as something that has yet to be completed," Delevic said.

"Balkan integration process yet to be completed"

Both the Serbian government and the EU member-states believe it is necessary to apprehend and extradite the remaining two war crimes indictees to the Hague Tribunal, she said.

"A small number of EU countries, primarily the Netherlands, believe these extraditions are necessary prior to moving to the next stage, but most EU members share Serbia's stand that enough has been done to secure the unblocking of the Interim Trade Agreement."

"It must be pointed out that Serbia has yet to take many more steps toward the EU, and the member-states will be able to evaluate the cooperation with the Hague before each one," Delević said.

Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will soon again visit Belgrade, she said, expressing hope that his report could contribute to Serbia moving forward into the next phase of its integration with Europe.

"As it now seems, the integration of Serbia and other regional countries will additionally depend on the effects and the duration of the global economic crisis, the adopting of the Lisbon Treaty, but also the adaption to the admission of a large number of new states which these days mark five years since they became EU members. All this additionally slows down the process of EU enlargement," Delević specified.

"Nevertheless, none of these factors should be discouraging, because the EU looks upon the process of the integration of the western Balkans as something that has yet to be completed," Delević said.