The European Commission has
recommended opening EU membership talks with Serbia, following Friday's landmark
deal to normalize Serbia-Kosovo ties. Serbia's government has approved the EU-brokered deal with its former
province of Kosovo. Both Serbia and Kosovo want to join the EU. There has been sporadic violence in Kosovo since the 1999 conflict. Many countries recognize Kosovo as independent, but Serbia is among those,
including Russia and China, who do not.
Five of the 27 EU countries do not recognize Kosovo: Spain, Greece, Romania,
Slovakia and Cyprus.
Serbia insists that Friday's deal, granting a high degree of autonomy to
Serb-majority areas in northern Kosovo, does not mean that it has recognized
Kosovo's independence.
The Commission, which steers EU membership negotiations, said it "recommends
that negotiations for accession to the European Union should be opened with
Serbia". EU foreign ministers will consider the issue on Monday.
In
a report the Commission said Serbia had "actively and constructively"
engaged in dialogue with Kosovo and had improved its co-operation with Eulex,
the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo.
In
a separate report the Commission also recommended opening talks with Kosovo
on reaching a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU - a key step
towards full EU accession negotiations.
The European Commission also proposed allowing Kosovo to participate in 22 EU
programmes. The proposal requires approval from EU governments to go ahead.
4 comments:
the EU is a fundamentally flawed as the Euro, there is linkage yes, but both institutions are structurally unsound. They have always been bound to fail, it was only ever a matter of time. The whole edifice needs radical reform and redirection. Far simpler structure. And a return to national currencies and respect for national characteristics.
Absolutely correct it is not just Brits who are Eurosceptic.
The Dutch and French referendums that returned an emphatic "NON" and whatever the Dutch word for no is (Sorry my Dutch friends) is evidence enough of the stinking,rotten anti democratic stance of the EU/EC when it comes to popular opinion.
Those votes were ignored and the propoganda ploughed on,using your money.
I love Europeans and that's why I hate the EU
EU may be doomed. I don't think people anywhere are seeing the benefits of EU membership. Before the crisis it was easy to talk up the benefits. Not so much anymore. Opponents will say the backlash is populist, but actually it's the result of the EU's own failures.
Even without the Euro the banking system in Cyprus and the public sector in Greece were shot. These problems were not caused by the Euro and throwing the whole thing away will make it a lot worse, not better. Reform, yes absolutely, but I think everybody underestimates the costs of leaving and the benefits we all have from staying.
José Manuel Barroso, the European commission president, said on Tuesdaythis week the European "dream" was under threat from a "resurgence of populism and nationalism" across the EU
I have an idea for your Barroso - prove that the EU still has democracy at its base - put yourself up for election as "our" Euro commision president , and see what happens
Yes, and it is terrible PR for the EU, but the 'fuck off' will be a lot more expensive than staying. These countries are receiving a lot of support - €10bn of the €16bn required for the Cyprus bailout came from the EU coffers and an even greater proportion for Greece. Of course, Germany could, and in my view should, do more but every politician has to win elections in their own country (even Germans).
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