Austrian official: Painful conditions for EU integration

BELGRADE Austria’s Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger met with Serbian PM Ivica Dacic in Belgrade on Thursday. “Austria will continue to back Serbia's EU integration at December's meeting of the European Council as well, but there are conditions for that and they are sometimes painful,” Spindelegger said. Austrian official: Painful conditions for EU integration After the meeting with Dacic Spindelegger said that it was expected that Belgrade-Pristina relations would be normalized and that the conditions agreed on before Serbia obtained the EU candidate-status would be met. Dacic qualified the implementation of agreements on the integrated border management as the most painful and difficult condition, but added that if this was not implemented "we cannot do anything." “When it comes to this issue, the government is in a deadlock but it is trying through the work of its working group to implement the agreement status neutrally, to the fullest extent possible,” he explained. "Serbia does not have much room to maneuver here. There are two possibilities - to implement the agreement or say we will not do it, which would mean that we will not talk about EU integration any more," Dacic noted. The Serbian prime minister added that at this point Serbia was negotiating about who would collect revenues on two problematic checkpoints. Belgrade has proposed that revenues from goods that go to northern Kosovo should belong to northern Kosovo or that completely duty-free relationships be established. "We will try to make the most of the situation. I do not expect Serbs from Kosovo to be thrilled. The government is not thrilled either," Dacic said. "As long as we can and as long as this does not jeopardize our state and national interests, we will follow the EU path. It would be best if Belgrade and Pristina found a sustainable solution, but not everyone is ready for that,” he added. "We are ready," Dacic concluded. Spindelegger will also meet with First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic. The Austrian official is also expected to confer with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic. He stressed earlier that Serbia needed to implement all agreements reached with Pristina, including the one on the integrated crossings management. “I commend the new stimulus they the Serbian leaders gave to the dialogue and their determination to run it. Progress in preparations for the implementation on the crossings agreements is also encouraging. Austria wants Serbia to reach the next phase on the EU pathway. But in the end, it depends on Serbia that should implement all agreements reached with Kosovo,” Spindelegger told daily Blic. He believes that his interlocutors in Belgrade are ready and that they have what it takes to fulfill all the conditions regarding Kosovo. The Austrian official noted that the European Commission “explained that nobody is asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo”. “This formula only means that the borders in the Balkans have already been drawn. This means that all future agreements will have to be based on a concept of indivisibility of Kosovo,” he stressed. When asked about the institutions in the north, Spindelegger said that “the main goal is that all ethnic groups have a sustainable prospect in the territory of Kosovo”. “Serbs in all parts of Kosovo should be able to live fully in accordance with their identity – language, religion and culture, and build a safe and secure future for next generations. This should not mean isolation and segregation or an obligation to cut their ties with Serbia. But Belgrade’s support to Kosovo Serbs needs to be transparent and responsible,” he concluded. Michael Spindelegger and Ivica Dacic are seen during the meeting (Tanjug) Beta Blic Tanjug

Austrian official: Painful conditions for EU integration

After the meeting with Dačić Spindelegger said that it was expected that Belgrade-Pristina relations would be normalized and that the conditions agreed on before Serbia obtained the EU candidate-status would be met.

Dačić qualified the implementation of agreements on the integrated border management as the most painful and difficult condition, but added that if this was not implemented "we cannot do anything."

“When it comes to this issue, the government is in a deadlock but it is trying through the work of its working group to implement the agreement status neutrally, to the fullest extent possible,” he explained.

"Serbia does not have much room to maneuver here. There are two possibilities - to implement the agreement or say we will not do it, which would mean that we will not talk about EU integration any more," Dačić noted.

The Serbian prime minister added that at this point Serbia was negotiating about who would collect revenues on two problematic checkpoints.

Belgrade has proposed that revenues from goods that go to northern Kosovo should belong to northern Kosovo or that completely duty-free relationships be established.

"We will try to make the most of the situation. I do not expect Serbs from Kosovo to be thrilled. The government is not thrilled either," Dačić said.

"As long as we can and as long as this does not jeopardize our state and national interests, we will follow the EU path. It would be best if Belgrade and Priština found a sustainable solution, but not everyone is ready for that,” he added.

"We are ready," Dačić concluded.

Spindelegger will also meet with First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

The Austrian official is also expected to confer with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubješić.

He stressed earlier that Serbia needed to implement all agreements reached with Priština, including the one on the integrated crossings management.

“I commend the new stimulus they the Serbian leaders gave to the dialogue and their determination to run it. Progress in preparations for the implementation on the crossings agreements is also encouraging. Austria wants Serbia to reach the next phase on the EU pathway. But in the end, it depends on Serbia that should implement all agreements reached with Kosovo,” Spindelegger told daily Blic.

He believes that his interlocutors in Belgrade are ready and that they have what it takes to fulfill all the conditions regarding Kosovo. The Austrian official noted that the European Commission “explained that nobody is asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo”.

“This formula only means that the borders in the Balkans have already been drawn. This means that all future agreements will have to be based on a concept of indivisibility of Kosovo,” he stressed.

When asked about the institutions in the north, Spindelegger said that “the main goal is that all ethnic groups have a sustainable prospect in the territory of Kosovo”.

“Serbs in all parts of Kosovo should be able to live fully in accordance with their identity – language, religion and culture, and build a safe and secure future for next generations. This should not mean isolation and segregation or an obligation to cut their ties with Serbia. But Belgrade’s support to Kosovo Serbs needs to be transparent and responsible,” he concluded.