| “Balkan integration priority for Czech presidency” |
| 31 December 2008 | 12:30
| Source:
B92, Beta |
PRAGUE --
The Czech Republic has stated that one of the chief priorities of its EU presidency will be the integration of the Balkans.
 | Karel Schwarzenberg
|
Prague will take over the presidency from Paris on January 1.
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told the Beta news agency that his country would fight for the integration of the Balkan region and ensure that the issue was not sidelined because of the global economic crisis.
However, Schwarzenberg was not that hopeful about fulfilling the promise of its presidency motto of “sweetening Europe”, adding that Prague would try to “at least sweeten the Balkans.”
“With the onset of the economic crisis, these issues are being pushed to the side. People in Europe who fear for their jobs will look to postpone the integration of the Balkans. We will fight against that,” the minister said.
He said that it would be hard in this climate, but that Prague would be satisfied if by the end of its six-month presidency the Balkans’ integration process was still up and running.
Schwarzenberg said that it would be a priority to try and convince Holland and Belgium that economic cooperation with Serbia must begin, and to help get Serbia on to the Schengen white list.
“As long as General Mladić runs free, it is absolutely clear to me that we will hit a wall and that we will not be able to overcome Holland and Belgium’s resistance. It must really be proven that Serbia is fully cooperating with the Hague Tribunal, and I know that this problem is partially being used to indefinitely postpone the enlargement of the Union,” he said.
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