"Balkan EU integration could be derailed"

The west Balkans countries’ EU integration could face serious delays, says a leading analyst.

Izvor: FoNet

Tuesday, 25.03.2008.

15:46

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The west Balkans countries’ EU integration could face serious delays, says a leading analyst. Stability Pact for South East Europe official Goran Svilanovic last night told journalists in Podgorica that the EU should encourage the west Balkan states to make a more determined bid for accession, which could have a positive impact on the crisis provoked by Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration. "Balkan EU integration could be derailed" Svilanovic said that Montenegro had not yet been affected by the crisis, but that that moment could be round the corner. Commenting on statements that Montenegro would apply for EU membership before the end of the Slovenian presidency, he said that the country could submit its candidacy, but the question remained how long that process would actually take. “The countries from the region should show a dose of courage and arrogance, and put significant pressure on Brussels and the EU member states to implement decisions reached at meetings between the west Balkan states and the EU as soon as possible,” advised the former foreign minister. Svilanovic thinks that more decisive EU support for the states in the region in their attempts to continue the association process and their ultimate successful completion, is one way to avert a lasting crisis in the region, brought about by Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration. He said that that was an enormous job for Brussels and the EU member-states but that, if the integration process was allowed to become bogged down, the crisis could become even more drastic. According to Svilanovic, by sending a mission to Pristina, the EU had undertaken responsibility not only for Kosovo, but the whole region. Goran Svilanovic (FoNet, archive)

"Balkan EU integration could be derailed"

Svilanović said that Montenegro had not yet been affected by the crisis, but that that moment could be round the corner.

Commenting on statements that Montenegro would apply for EU membership before the end of the Slovenian presidency, he said that the country could submit its candidacy, but the question remained how long that process would actually take.

“The countries from the region should show a dose of courage and arrogance, and put significant pressure on Brussels and the EU member states to implement decisions reached at meetings between the west Balkan states and the EU as soon as possible,” advised the former foreign minister.

Svilanović thinks that more decisive EU support for the states in the region in their attempts to continue the association process and their ultimate successful completion, is one way to avert a lasting crisis in the region, brought about by Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration.

He said that that was an enormous job for Brussels and the EU member-states but that, if the integration process was allowed to become bogged down, the crisis could become even more drastic.

According to Svilanović, by sending a mission to Priština, the EU had undertaken responsibility not only for Kosovo, but the whole region.

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