Analyst warns about drawn-out EU membership talks

BELGRADE The report of Catherine Ashton, in which she said that Serbia had met all requirements for the start of accession talks, "was expected," says Predrag Simic. Simic, who is a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, spoke for B92 and noted that "it was, after all, the success of the EU foreign policy chief." Analyst warns about drawn-out EU membership talks "But it seems to me that problems await us at the Council of Ministers, but primarily at the EU summit," he said, stressing that "the important day is December 20." Speaking about "new" conditions, Simic said that there was a non-paper, and the conditions of Britain and Germany. "What Berlin is asking - to tie all chapters of negotiations to the issue of Kosovo, could result in Pristina also blocking us in the to progress towards EU membership," he said. This former ambassador recalled that the EU was "still very divided over Kosovo, the countries that have not recognized Kosovo are an exception, and pressure was expected on the five countries in this direction." Simic said that Serbia could be overshadowed by the debate on Ukraine, which is expected at the EU summit, and noted that this "would not be a bad thing." "The beginning of negotiations with Serbia would be a small positive point for them as well," he said. The start of negotiations in January is possible, according to him. However, Simic stressed that if the German condition passed, this would mean that Serbia's EU membership negotiations "would last longer than Turkey's." "If the German condition goes in, negotiations should begin, but with this condition they will be extended indefinitely. If these conditions are incorporated negotiations can become open-ended, with a high probability that they will not conclud in a reasonable period of time," said Simic. (Tanjug, file) B92

Analyst warns about drawn-out EU membership talks

"But it seems to me that problems await us at the Council of Ministers, but primarily at the EU summit," he said, stressing that "the important day is December 20."

Speaking about "new" conditions, Simić said that there was a non-paper, and the conditions of Britain and Germany.

"What Berlin is asking - to tie all chapters of negotiations to the issue of Kosovo, could result in Priština also blocking us in the to progress towards EU membership," he said.

This former ambassador recalled that the EU was "still very divided over Kosovo, the countries that have not recognized Kosovo are an exception, and pressure was expected on the five countries in this direction."

Simić said that Serbia could be overshadowed by the debate on Ukraine, which is expected at the EU summit, and noted that this "would not be a bad thing."

"The beginning of negotiations with Serbia would be a small positive point for them as well," he said.

The start of negotiations in January is possible, according to him.

However, Simić stressed that if the German condition passed, this would mean that Serbia's EU membership negotiations "would last longer than Turkey's."

"If the German condition goes in, negotiations should begin, but with this condition they will be extended indefinitely. If these conditions are incorporated negotiations can become open-ended, with a high probability that they will not conclud in a reasonable period of time," said Simić.