EP: Serbia is “engine for integration”

EP Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin says that Serbia is the “engine, generator and catalyst” for the Balkans’ EU integration, but could also be an obstacle. Kacin said that “how fast Serbia moves” will have a bearing on the speed of integration of other countries in the region. He explained that this did not mean that other countries in the region were hostages to Serbia, but that positive progress on Serbia’s part would have a direct impact on the political climate in these countries. EP: Serbia is “engine for integration” He said that progress was visible in Serbia, and that the biggest achievement would be the abolishment of visas for Serbian citizens, which should happen this year. “This will greatly strengthen confidence and desire for progress, which will be a deciding factor,” Kacin said. The rapporteur added that Kosovo “is and is not a country,” stressing that it was important for Kosovo Serbs to cooperate with the provincial government. Kacin said that as far as EU integration was concerned, Macedonia was in the toughest position because it had yet to resolve its name dispute with Greece. He said that this dispute was putting a strain on the internal political scene and was poisoning the political atmosphere. Speaking of Croatia and its European future, Kacin said that many challenges still lay ahead, and the key task was to unblock its association process. Nevertheless, Kacin does not believe that Slovenia is blocking Croatia’s association because “Croatia can unblock its negotiations itself, if it removes the divisive documents that are prejudging open issues of the Slovenian-Croatian border from its negotiating chapters.”

EP: Serbia is “engine for integration”

He said that progress was visible in Serbia, and that the biggest achievement would be the abolishment of visas for Serbian citizens, which should happen this year.

“This will greatly strengthen confidence and desire for progress, which will be a deciding factor,” Kacin said.

The rapporteur added that Kosovo “is and is not a country,” stressing that it was important for Kosovo Serbs to cooperate with the provincial government.

Kacin said that as far as EU integration was concerned, Macedonia was in the toughest position because it had yet to resolve its name dispute with Greece.

He said that this dispute was putting a strain on the internal political scene and was poisoning the political atmosphere.

Speaking of Croatia and its European future, Kacin said that many challenges still lay ahead, and the key task was to unblock its association process.

Nevertheless, Kacin does not believe that Slovenia is blocking Croatia’s association because “Croatia can unblock its negotiations itself, if it removes the divisive documents that are prejudging open issues of the Slovenian-Croatian border from its negotiating chapters.”