EU offers interim deal, signing on Feb. 7

The European Union has today offered Serbia a "comprehensive political cooperation agreement." Instead of a date for the signing of the already initialed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), a ministerial meeting today came up with an offer of comprehensive cooperation in the sectors of economy, education, and complete canceling of visas for Serbian nationals, Beta news agency reported. EU offers interim deal, signing on Feb. 7 Belgrade can now accept and sign the agreement on February 7, the meeting concluded. A working group will also be set up to assist the implementation of such a deal, the chair of the EU Council of Ministers, Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, told reporters in Brussels today. EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana commented that this was an "exceptionally strong message that Serbia and the Serbian people are an important part of Europe, and that Serbia is the key Western Balkans country for the EU." "We are offering Serbia and the Serbian people a clear perspective of joining the EU's ranks," Solana said. Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado went a step further in his statement after the meeting and said that this "strong message to the Serbian people came ahead of the second round of the presidential elections, where there is a division between those who are in favor and those against Serbia's integration." Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado went a step further in his statement after the meeting and said that this "strong message to the Serbian people came ahead of the second round of the presidential elections, where there is a division between those who are in favor and those against Serbia's integration." Earlier today, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier announced that the EU will not sign the SAA with Serbia "in the next couple of days." He was speaking on the fringes of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, where Serbia's integration was on the agenda today. "There will certainly be no signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] in the coming days," Steinmeier told journalists. The Dutch officials reiterated earlier this morning that they will not agree to sign the deal, designed to bring Serbia closer to EU membership, until Belgrade fully cooperates with the Hague Tribunal. "We do not wish this to come across as if the remaining 26 countries are more lenient in their position," the chief of German diplomacy explained. The Union's SAA dilemma had several underlying issues, such as the sending of its mission to replace UNMIK in Kosovo, which Belgrade opposes, and the consequences that any EU move might have on the presidential vote run-off in Serbia. Agencies reported from Brussels today that the ministers were in for a long debate on how to strengthen relations with Belgrade, and consider all instruments to aid the country's democratic and European path, including the signing of the SAA and future EU membership for Serbia. But the highly controversial question of sending an EU civilian mission to Kosovo is not on the agenda today. A new informal "troika" has formed in continuous efforts to solve the Kosovo status puzzle, consisting this time of top EU officials: foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, and Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. All three are later Monday set to meet with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, the only Serbian official invited to Brussels today. Earlier, President Boris Tadic says that the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be signed with the EU "very soon." However, the Serbian president said that the exact date is not yet set. “This will happen very quickly. It is important to know that the agreement deals with economic questions and that it opens new possibilities for the development of the Serbian industry,” Tadic told daily Blic. “The Serbian citizen helped a lot in this job. The signing of the SAA agreement is a result o the acknowledgment of all the changes that our country has made and the large step it has taken towards becoming a full-fledged EU member,” Tadic said. Ahead of today's meeting, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has written in an article for The Guardian. Rehn believes that although there is "a danger of instability, at the moment when Kosovo's future status is on the point of being resolved, the EU could be a stabilizing influence." This influence can be achieved "if the EU gives a decisive and unified steer to ensure a coordinated response, as foreign ministers meeting today should be aware." "The western Balkans has made steady, if uneven, progress over recent years and the goal of EU membership remains an important motivation to keep reforms on track." "EU foreign ministers should today give a strong signal of Serbia's European future by deciding to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement shortly.' "Seldom have citizens had as clear a choice as the Serbs do now, between a nationalist past and a European future. The EU is ready to welcome the citizens of Serbia into Europe, not just through a contractual relationship with their state, but also individually,' Rehn wrote. "The future for the Balkans can be far from dark... But ultimately people in the region have to exercise their democratic choice to determine their countries' future course,' he concluded. Amado, Solana, in Brussels today (FoNet)

EU offers interim deal, signing on Feb. 7

Belgrade can now accept and sign the agreement on February 7, the meeting concluded.

A working group will also be set up to assist the implementation of such a deal, the chair of the EU Council of Ministers, Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, told reporters in Brussels today.

EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana commented that this was an "exceptionally strong message that Serbia and the Serbian people are an important part of Europe, and that Serbia is the key Western Balkans country for the EU."

"We are offering Serbia and the Serbian people a clear perspective of joining the EU's ranks," Solana said.

Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado went a step further in his statement after the meeting and said that this "strong message to the Serbian people came ahead of the second round of the presidential elections, where there is a division between those who are in favor and those against Serbia's integration."

Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado went a step further in his statement after the meeting and said that this "strong message to the Serbian people came ahead of the second round of the presidential elections, where there is a division between those who are in favor and those against Serbia's integration."

Earlier today, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier announced that the EU will not sign the SAA with Serbia "in the next couple of days."

He was speaking on the fringes of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, where Serbia's integration was on the agenda today.

"There will certainly be no signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] in the coming days," Steinmeier told journalists.

The Dutch officials reiterated earlier this morning that they will not agree to sign the deal, designed to bring Serbia closer to EU membership, until Belgrade fully cooperates with the Hague Tribunal.

"We do not wish this to come across as if the remaining 26 countries are more lenient in their position," the chief of German diplomacy explained.

The Union's SAA dilemma had several underlying issues, such as the sending of its mission to replace UNMIK in Kosovo, which Belgrade opposes, and the consequences that any EU move might have on the presidential vote run-off in Serbia.

Agencies reported from Brussels today that the ministers were in for a long debate on how to strengthen relations with Belgrade, and consider all instruments to aid the country's democratic and European path, including the signing of the SAA and future EU membership for Serbia.

But the highly controversial question of sending an EU civilian mission to Kosovo is not on the agenda today.

A new informal "troika" has formed in continuous efforts to solve the Kosovo status puzzle, consisting this time of top EU officials: foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, and Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.

All three are later Monday set to meet with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, the only Serbian official invited to Brussels today.

Earlier, President Boris Tadić says that the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be signed with the EU "very soon."

However, the Serbian president said that the exact date is not yet set.

“This will happen very quickly. It is important to know that the agreement deals with economic questions and that it opens new possibilities for the development of the Serbian industry,” Tadić told daily Blic.

“The Serbian citizen helped a lot in this job. The signing of the SAA agreement is a result o the acknowledgment of all the changes that our country has made and the large step it has taken towards becoming a full-fledged EU member,” Tadić said.

Ahead of today's meeting, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has written in an article for The Guardian.

Rehn believes that although there is "a danger of instability, at the moment when Kosovo's future status is on the point of being resolved, the EU could be a stabilizing influence."

This influence can be achieved "if the EU gives a decisive and unified steer to ensure a coordinated response, as foreign ministers meeting today should be aware."

"The western Balkans has made steady, if uneven, progress over recent years and the goal of EU membership remains an important motivation to keep reforms on track."

"EU foreign ministers should today give a strong signal of Serbia's European future by deciding to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement shortly.'

"Seldom have citizens had as clear a choice as the Serbs do now, between a nationalist past and a European future. The EU is ready to welcome the citizens of Serbia into Europe, not just through a contractual relationship with their state, but also individually,' Rehn wrote.

"The future for the Balkans can be far from dark... But ultimately people in the region have to exercise their democratic choice to determine their countries' future course,' he concluded.