Two "EU Balkan summits" in works

Slovenia and Croatia’s intention to organize a conference of the Western Balkan countries has prompted mixed reactions in the EU member states, say reports. While some support the move, others are worried that it could overshadow a planned EU-Western Balkans foreign ministers conference, scheduled by the Spanish EU Presidency, to be held in Sarajevo at the end of May or beginning of June, WAZ.EUobserver.com has reported. Two "EU Balkan summits" in works EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Spanish Prime Minister and current EU chairman Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero and the EU's High Representative, Catherine Ashton, have all been invited to the gathering that is set to be organized jointly by Slovenia and Croatia. Some diplomats from EU member states welcome the fact that Slovenia and Croatia, after 17 years of bilateral dispute over their Adriatic border, "have overcome their disagreements and are now forging a partnership", said the report. However, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Saturday after an informal meeting of EU ministers in Cordoba, Spain that the conference “was not European”, adding that the announced conference in Sarajevo was "the only platform for discussion about the Western Balkans". According to diplomatic sources quoted by the report, Germany and France are in favor of the meeting. However, more cynical views suggesting the EU would like Slovenia and other countries of the region to deal with enlargement because it is no longer an EU priority can also be heard in Brussels diplomatic circles, WAZ.EUobserver writes. Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar stated in Cordoba that “leaders of the Balkan countries would (in Slovenia) adopt an announcement intended to the EU regarding their obligations, opinions and expectations”. According to him, the Western Balkans countries "will probably not receive concrete offers at the conference in Sarajevo". Diplomats from some EU member states question whether it is appropriate that Croatia, before becoming an EU member, should co-organizing the event. "This would send them a wrong signal that they are de facto in the EU, while they still have to work hard to fulfill a number of conditions," a diplomat said, according to the report.

Two "EU Balkan summits" in works

EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Spanish Prime Minister and current EU chairman Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero and the EU's High Representative, Catherine Ashton, have all been invited to the gathering that is set to be organized jointly by Slovenia and Croatia.

Some diplomats from EU member states welcome the fact that Slovenia and Croatia, after 17 years of bilateral dispute over their Adriatic border, "have overcome their disagreements and are now forging a partnership", said the report.

However, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Saturday after an informal meeting of EU ministers in Cordoba, Spain that the conference “was not European”, adding that the announced conference in Sarajevo was "the only platform for discussion about the Western Balkans".

According to diplomatic sources quoted by the report, Germany and France are in favor of the meeting.

However, more cynical views suggesting the EU would like Slovenia and other countries of the region to deal with enlargement because it is no longer an EU priority can also be heard in Brussels diplomatic circles, WAZ.EUobserver writes.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar stated in Cordoba that “leaders of the Balkan countries would (in Slovenia) adopt an announcement intended to the EU regarding their obligations, opinions and expectations”.

According to him, the Western Balkans countries "will probably not receive concrete offers at the conference in Sarajevo".

Diplomats from some EU member states question whether it is appropriate that Croatia, before becoming an EU member, should co-organizing the event.

"This would send them a wrong signal that they are de facto in the EU, while they still have to work hard to fulfill a number of conditions," a diplomat said, according to the report.