Crisis slows Montenegrin EU ambitions

The EU Czech presidency warned the economic crisis would slow accession of new EU members, and specifically Montenegro’s candidacy. The announcement was made by Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech foreign minister, who said on Monday that the EU Council of Ministers session had not agreed to accept Montenegro’s candidacy. Crisis slows Montenegrin EU ambitions He emphasized, though, that he believes it will be possible to reach an agreement at the session of foreign ministers in mid-March. Schwarzenberg said after the meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha that “there was a time when the European Union looked forward to all such requests for candidacy, but now there is a certain reservation in the EU.” “Montenegro is, in a way, unlucky that such a request (for EU candidacy) was submitted now,” said the Czech foreign minister, adding “people are cautious during an economic crisis.” Schwarzenberg emphasized that the Czech EU presidency pledged to continue enlarging the EU in the Western Balkans, but pointed out that, for the time being, Montenegro’s EU candidacy had not been unanimously approved by the EU 27. According to diplomatic sources, Holland, Germany and a few other EU states believe more time is needed to examine in a regional sense which Western Balkan states should be allowed to take bigger steps towards EU accession and when. Italy, Spain and some other European states believe, however, that that need not interfere with Montenegro’s EU accession. Basha said that Tirana intends to seek EU candidacy status, but he did not say when that might happen. Sources in Brussels believe that Albania could do so after a meeting with high-ranking NATO members at the beginning of April, when it is expected to join the Alliance. Among EU members, though, the opinion that that would be too soon dominates, as does the belief that one of the key factors will be Albanian parliamentary elections this June and how they are carried out. Schwarzenberg did not directly mention the topic, but he summed up the situation metaphorically, saying that it was “like when someone comes for a visit, and when they knock on the door, in the house there’s a flood because the water pipes have burst.”

Crisis slows Montenegrin EU ambitions

He emphasized, though, that he believes it will be possible to reach an agreement at the session of foreign ministers in mid-March.

Schwarzenberg said after the meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha that “there was a time when the European Union looked forward to all such requests for candidacy, but now there is a certain reservation in the EU.”

“Montenegro is, in a way, unlucky that such a request (for EU candidacy) was submitted now,” said the Czech foreign minister, adding “people are cautious during an economic crisis.”

Schwarzenberg emphasized that the Czech EU presidency pledged to continue enlarging the EU in the Western Balkans, but pointed out that, for the time being, Montenegro’s EU candidacy had not been unanimously approved by the EU 27.

According to diplomatic sources, Holland, Germany and a few other EU states believe more time is needed to examine in a regional sense which Western Balkan states should be allowed to take bigger steps towards EU accession and when.

Italy, Spain and some other European states believe, however, that that need not interfere with Montenegro’s EU accession.

Basha said that Tirana intends to seek EU candidacy status, but he did not say when that might happen.

Sources in Brussels believe that Albania could do so after a meeting with high-ranking NATO members at the beginning of April, when it is expected to join the Alliance.

Among EU members, though, the opinion that that would be too soon dominates, as does the belief that one of the key factors will be Albanian parliamentary elections this June and how they are carried out.

Schwarzenberg did not directly mention the topic, but he summed up the situation metaphorically, saying that it was “like when someone comes for a visit, and when they knock on the door, in the house there’s a flood because the water pipes have burst.”