"No key decisions for Serbia at Brussels meetings"

BRUSSELS European Union's enlargement will be among the topics discussed in a series of high-level meetings that will take place in Brussels this week. However, key decisions for candidate countries, Serbia included, are not expected until next year. "No key decisions for Serbia at Brussels meetings" According to the draft conclusions which will be presented to EU foreign ministers, Serbia will not get a start date for accession talks "until it fully implements all the agreements reached in the dialogue and makes more progress in normalizing relations with Pristina", Tanjug has learned. According to the news agency, there is a possibility that negotiations would be opened with Serbia in June, after the EU Council appraises that progress had been made in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. However, an unnamed diplomat was quoted as saying that "some countries are strongly objecting to any mention of a deadline, even a conditional one", that would set a date for the start of EU accession talks with Serbia. "Even after three ambassador-level meetings during last week we reached no agreement on draft conclusions on Serbia and Kosovo," this diplomat was further quoted as saying. Although the countries opposed to the draft had not been named, Tanjug said it had learned that they include Germany, Britain, and Holland, and that they believe that sufficient progress "in the implementation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue" has not been made. On the other hand, Austria, Italy and Cyprus reportedly believe that Serbia now "deserves a reward" for the successful start of the IBM deal implementation. "Besides, there is also the resistance of some members to open the possibility for Kosovo to be given the SAA in June," Tanjug is reporting from Brussels. According to the news agency, the countries that have not recognized the province as independent are also opposed to giving it the EU's Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), and they include Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. The diplomat was also quoted as saying that the EU ministers will today and on Tuesday "try to find a compromise solution": "We must find a formulation that will give Serbia and Kosovo European perspective, and satisfy all (EU) member states," he stated, conceding that this task "will not be easy", considering that the issues are "exceptionally political in nature". Meanwhile, the EU Foreign Affairs Council will be in session on the first day of the meetings, while in the afternoon, the ministers will hear a report from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the progress of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. The second day of the Council's session is reserved for enlargement-related issues, when ministers will discuss progress made by candidate countries in the past year. At the EU Summit on Thursday and Friday, December 13 and 14, heads of state and government are expected to adopt conclusions proposed by the ministers. In addition to enlargement, the broad range of topics includes the situation in the Middle East and in Africa, as well as relations with Russia. The Council of the EU will assess progress in the dialogue in the spring of 2013, with the possibility of opening accession talks in June if problems are resolved in a satisfactory manner, it is said in the draft conclusions on Serbia. Albania, which is waiting for candidate status, and Macedonia, which cannot start accession talks due to a dispute over its name with Greece, will also be left empty-handed, Tanjug has learned from diplomatic sources in Brussels. Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has been unable to carry out necessary constitutional changes, will also not get candidate status this year. Montenegro, which has spent most of the year getting ready for accession talks, will finally open them in early summer of 2013, when Croatia will already be a member country. "This has not been a good year for enlargement," a Western diplomat who wanted to remain anonymous told Tanjug. The lack of progress is a result of the objectively little progress candidate countries have made in meeting the criteria, as well as the economic crisis which has had Europe in its grip for the past three years, he explained. This year, the EU has been focusing on itself, he said, adding the important thing right now was to keep the enlargement process going and keep it from coming to a complete standstill. (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

"No key decisions for Serbia at Brussels meetings"

According to the draft conclusions which will be presented to EU foreign ministers, Serbia will not get a start date for accession talks "until it fully implements all the agreements reached in the dialogue and makes more progress in normalizing relations with Priština", Tanjug has learned.

According to the news agency, there is a possibility that negotiations would be opened with Serbia in June, after the EU Council appraises that progress had been made in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue.

However, an unnamed diplomat was quoted as saying that "some countries are strongly objecting to any mention of a deadline, even a conditional one", that would set a date for the start of EU accession talks with Serbia.

"Even after three ambassador-level meetings during last week we reached no agreement on draft conclusions on Serbia and Kosovo," this diplomat was further quoted as saying.

Although the countries opposed to the draft had not been named, Tanjug said it had learned that they include Germany, Britain, and Holland, and that they believe that sufficient progress "in the implementation of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue" has not been made.

On the other hand, Austria, Italy and Cyprus reportedly believe that Serbia now "deserves a reward" for the successful start of the IBM deal implementation.

"Besides, there is also the resistance of some members to open the possibility for Kosovo to be given the SAA in June," Tanjug is reporting from Brussels.

According to the news agency, the countries that have not recognized the province as independent are also opposed to giving it the EU's Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), and they include Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

The diplomat was also quoted as saying that the EU ministers will today and on Tuesday "try to find a compromise solution":

"We must find a formulation that will give Serbia and Kosovo European perspective, and satisfy all (EU) member states," he stated, conceding that this task "will not be easy", considering that the issues are "exceptionally political in nature".

Meanwhile, the EU Foreign Affairs Council will be in session on the first day of the meetings, while in the afternoon, the ministers will hear a report from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the progress of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

The second day of the Council's session is reserved for enlargement-related issues, when ministers will discuss progress made by candidate countries in the past year.

At the EU Summit on Thursday and Friday, December 13 and 14, heads of state and government are expected to adopt conclusions proposed by the ministers. In addition to enlargement, the broad range of topics includes the situation in the Middle East and in Africa, as well as relations with Russia.

The Council of the EU will assess progress in the dialogue in the spring of 2013, with the possibility of opening accession talks in June if problems are resolved in a satisfactory manner, it is said in the draft conclusions on Serbia.

Albania, which is waiting for candidate status, and Macedonia, which cannot start accession talks due to a dispute over its name with Greece, will also be left empty-handed, Tanjug has learned from diplomatic sources in Brussels.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has been unable to carry out necessary constitutional changes, will also not get candidate status this year.

Montenegro, which has spent most of the year getting ready for accession talks, will finally open them in early summer of 2013, when Croatia will already be a member country.

"This has not been a good year for enlargement," a Western diplomat who wanted to remain anonymous told Tanjug.

The lack of progress is a result of the objectively little progress candidate countries have made in meeting the criteria, as well as the economic crisis which has had Europe in its grip for the past three years, he explained.

This year, the EU has been focusing on itself, he said, adding the important thing right now was to keep the enlargement process going and keep it from coming to a complete standstill.