EU talks at standstill for seven months

EU talks at standstill for seven months

Serbia’s journey towards the EU came to a halt on May 3rd when EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn announced that the EU indefinitely suspended the negotiations with Serbia, since Hague fugitive Ratko Mladić had not been put behind bars.

Olli Rehn and Carla del Ponte were both disappointed with the fact that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica failed to keep his promise and capture Mladić by the end of April 2006.

Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus handed in his resignation, overtly stating his regret that the Government let down its citizens by breaking a given promise.

At the NATO summit in Riga held in November 2006, Serbia was invited to join the Partnership for Peace, which was quickly followed by speculation about the possible resumption of negotiations with Serbia after the parliamentary elections. However, the EU officials stated that Serbia was indeed welcome in the European family, but after the obligations towards the Hague were fulfilled.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja confirmed the EU stand concerning Serbia, saying that the EU standpoint remained unchanged, meaning that full co-operation with the Hague was still a key stipulation for further talks. The Stabilization and Association agreement determines the necessary reforms and adjustments that a country needs to carry out in order to officially gain an EU candidate status.