EP official: Candidacy unrealistic

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that it is unrealistic for Serbia to apply for EU candidacy by the end of 2009. “Candidacy is an important issue, that is why we must be realistic. It cannot be a game of poker, put a game with clear rules with which trust is earned from all 27 member-states, the EU institutions, Serbian neighbors and other current and future candidates,” Kacin told daily Blic. EP official: Candidacy unrealistic He said that a candidacy application which does not get answered does not help anyone, adding that the application should be submitted once a positive response can be expected. “The real approach is constant work which will be richly rewarded. Serbia was able to do that with the abolishment of visas, because it changed itself and made itself capable,” Kacin said. Speaking on Holland’s stance towards Serbia, he said that Holland is not standing between Serbia and the EU, rather Hague fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic and those helping them hide are the problem. “They are the obstacle, not Holland,” Kacin said. Speaking of his recent criticism of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Kacin asked if Serbia has a number of different foreign policies. “Does Serbia have several foreign policies? A different one for every ear and every opportunity?” Kacin asked. He said that such policies are not good for Serbia in the eyes of the EU, whose 27 member-states’ opinions follow one another very closely. Jelko Kacin and Bozidar Djelic (FoNet archive)

EP official: Candidacy unrealistic

He said that a candidacy application which does not get answered does not help anyone, adding that the application should be submitted once a positive response can be expected.

“The real approach is constant work which will be richly rewarded. Serbia was able to do that with the abolishment of visas, because it changed itself and made itself capable,” Kacin said.

Speaking on Holland’s stance towards Serbia, he said that Holland is not standing between Serbia and the EU, rather Hague fugitives Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić and those helping them hide are the problem.

“They are the obstacle, not Holland,” Kacin said.

Speaking of his recent criticism of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Kacin asked if Serbia has a number of different foreign policies.

“Does Serbia have several foreign policies? A different one for every ear and every opportunity?” Kacin asked.

He said that such policies are not good for Serbia in the eyes of the EU, whose 27 member-states’ opinions follow one another very closely.