"W. Balkan integration, Czech priority"

The Czech Republic will endeavor to accelerate the integration of the West Balkan countries, says Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. “One of the priorities of the Czech presidency is generating more energy and speeding up the integration of the Western Balkans. A very important task for the Czech Republic is to accelerate the process of Croatia’s EU accession,“ said Schwarzenberg. "W. Balkan integration, Czech priority" According to Reuters, diplomats believe that Croatia could become the 28th EU member in 2011, while Serbia could receive candidate status next year. Speaking after a meeting with Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic, Schwarzenburg dismissed the views of EU members like Germany and France, who oppose any further EU enlargement without adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. According to the Czech foreign minister, this attitude is pointless because “if the right time for the integration of the West Balkan countries is passed up, that will be bad for all of Europe, not just the Balkans.“ EU member-state governments agreed over the Lisbon Treaty revamping the decision-making process within the Union, but ratification is not going as smoothly as planned after the Irish rejected the Treaty at a referendum in June. The Czech Republic itself barely ratified the treaty, with the ruling right-wing party, the Civil Democratic Party, viewing it as more a “necessary evil“ than a step forward for Europe. Prague’s position was the reason why some EU politicians questioned the expediency of the Czech Republic presiding over the Union in the first six months of next year. The Czechs also opposed fiscal breaks to resolve the financial crisis that received the endorsement of the current French EU presidency. Karel Schwarzenberg

"W. Balkan integration, Czech priority"

According to Reuters, diplomats believe that Croatia could become the 28th EU member in 2011, while Serbia could receive candidate status next year.

Speaking after a meeting with Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandroković, Schwarzenburg dismissed the views of EU members like Germany and France, who oppose any further EU enlargement without adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.

According to the Czech foreign minister, this attitude is pointless because “if the right time for the integration of the West Balkan countries is passed up, that will be bad for all of Europe, not just the Balkans.“

EU member-state governments agreed over the Lisbon Treaty revamping the decision-making process within the Union, but ratification is not going as smoothly as planned after the Irish rejected the Treaty at a referendum in June.

The Czech Republic itself barely ratified the treaty, with the ruling right-wing party, the Civil Democratic Party, viewing it as more a “necessary evil“ than a step forward for Europe.

Prague’s position was the reason why some EU politicians questioned the expediency of the Czech Republic presiding over the Union in the first six months of next year.

The Czechs also opposed fiscal breaks to resolve the financial crisis that received the endorsement of the current French EU presidency.