EU ministers praise Serbia, but Dutch remain unmoved

EU foreign ministers have praised Serbia for its efforts in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, and called on Belgrade to complete its obligations. EU ministers stated that Serbia, “with its strong capacities in state administration, can speed up EU progress, and become a candidate for membership, as long as the necessary conditions are met.” EU ministers praise Serbia, but Dutch remain unmoved European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has also received certain support for unfreezing the interim trade agreement with Belgrade. In the session’s concluding declaration, EU ministers “support the fact that Serbia has confirmed its European orientation” and “recognize the progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” adding that “Serbia must complement this favorable progress with full cooperation” with the Hague. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said in Brussels that cooperation had not improved sufficiently for Holland to change its stance on opposing the unfreezing of the agreement. Rehn and EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Javier Solana commended Serbia’s constructive approach to the EULEX deployment in Kosovo. Rehn stressed that “Serbia has been constructive to a great degree, and has had a positive approach to the deployment of EULEX,” and other issues related to the EU. The declaration added that Romania had also shown support for Rehn’s initiative to unfreeze the trade agreement. The debate was held during a conference entitled “The Enlargement Strategy and Major Challenges in 2008/2009”, which included the presentation of the European Commission’s annual report on progress made by Western Balkans countries in EU integration, which also offers “great support” to the process. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic warned late on Sunday that “there is very little chance” that the EU Council of Ministers would unfreeze the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia at its summit on Monday. “Over the past few weeks we have done our best to lobby for a consensus in the EU. In the last 48 hours, I have held talks with a dozen foreign ministers, but they told me that the chances are poor because Holland keeps insisting on its stand that Serbia is not fully cooperating with the Hague Tribunal,” Jeremic told B92. He added that “about twenty European foreign ministers will put pressure on the Netherlands to change its position.” Jeremic said that Serbia “is fully cooperating with the Hague” and added that it was wrong to claim anything else. Olli Rehn (FoNet, archive)

EU ministers praise Serbia, but Dutch remain unmoved

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has also received certain support for unfreezing the interim trade agreement with Belgrade.

In the session’s concluding declaration, EU ministers “support the fact that Serbia has confirmed its European orientation” and “recognize the progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” adding that “Serbia must complement this favorable progress with full cooperation” with the Hague.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said in Brussels that cooperation had not improved sufficiently for Holland to change its stance on opposing the unfreezing of the agreement.

Rehn and EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Javier Solana commended Serbia’s constructive approach to the EULEX deployment in Kosovo.

Rehn stressed that “Serbia has been constructive to a great degree, and has had a positive approach to the deployment of EULEX,” and other issues related to the EU.

The declaration added that Romania had also shown support for Rehn’s initiative to unfreeze the trade agreement.

The debate was held during a conference entitled “The Enlargement Strategy and Major Challenges in 2008/2009”, which included the presentation of the European Commission’s annual report on progress made by Western Balkans countries in EU integration, which also offers “great support” to the process.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić warned late on Sunday that “there is very little chance” that the EU Council of Ministers would unfreeze the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia at its summit on Monday.

“Over the past few weeks we have done our best to lobby for a consensus in the EU. In the last 48 hours, I have held talks with a dozen foreign ministers, but they told me that the chances are poor because Holland keeps insisting on its stand that Serbia is not fully cooperating with the Hague Tribunal,” Jeremic told B92.

He added that “about twenty European foreign ministers will put pressure on the Netherlands to change its position.”

Jeremić said that Serbia “is fully cooperating with the Hague” and added that it was wrong to claim anything else.