After the collapse of
the Soviet Union, organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the NATO increase
their activities in the Balkans, and the former Communist Bloc started to join
these organizations as their members. In this process, Croatia became the
latest member of the EU on 1 July 2013. On 21 January 2014, Serbia began negotiations
for EU membership.
Serbia towards the EU...
Along with 5 other
Western Balkans countries, Serbia was identified as a potential candidate for
EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in 2003. In 2008,
a European partnership for Serbia was adopted, setting out priorities for the country's
membership application, and in 2009 Serbia formally applied. In March 2012
Serbia was granted EU candidate status. In September 2013 a Stabilization and
Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia entered into force. In line
with the decision of the European Council in June 2013 to open accession
negotiations with Serbia, the Council adopted in December 2013 the negotiating
framework and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia
in January 2014. On 21 January 2014, the 1st Intergovernmental Conference took
place, signaling the formal start of Serbia's accession negotiations.
The EU Membership
negotiations are difficult to predict in advance how long one but as one of the
Western Balkan counties and one of the former Yugoslav countries, Croatia's
full membership negotiations with the EU lasted about six years .
Start of EU
Membership Negotiations with Serbia is very important in terms of spreading the
peace, democracy and the EU standards throughout all of Europe. Well, the EU
membership for Serbia is an easy and convenient way? As each of candidate
countries, Serbia is required to complete 35 chapters. Serbia's priorities in
order to complete this chapter is required to make constitutional changes and
reforms. As in all the Balkan countries, Serbia has some problems on democracy,
corruption, minority rights and freedom issues. In addition, as Serbia does not
recognize Kosovo's independence, this is also a problem. Thus, Serbia's
accession process does not seem like an easy way.
Why Serbia wants to join the EU?
There are several
reasons. The first and the most important reason is economic stability. The
rate of unemployment is the biggest problem in Serbia. PM of Serbia, Ivica
Dacic said, referring to Serbia's 25% unemployment rate, which sits below only
Spain and Greece in the EU. The other reasons are higher standard of living,
better law, less corruption, more opportunities in education, technological
advancement, and free EU funds such as IPA. The second level of benefits is
energy stability, EU law as member's protection in many aspects, no visa....
The EU is huge
market. EU membership is a chance for Serbia to join the world's largest
trading bloc and will offer access to funding for infrastructure projects and
the country's poorer regions.
Serbia can join the EU without Recognizing of Kosovo?
On Tuesday, January
21, 2014, after the start of Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU,
Kosovo issue has come directly to mind. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said
that his country will not recognize Kosovo's independence as the price for
entering the European Union.
While
"normalization" of ties between Serbia and Kosovo is a key criterion
for each side's hopes of European integration, MEPs remain divided on whether “normalized"
relations must include mutual diplomatic recognition. Ulrike Lunacek, European
Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, on Monday that Serbia would have to recognize
the independence of its former province before joining the EU because the club
does not want “a second Cyprus. “Even the non-recognizers [of Kosovo's
independence] won’t accept Serbia in the EU if Serbia does not recognize it
[Kosovo] because that would mean something like Cyprus,” she added. The EU
allowed Cyprus to join in 2004 although the island remains divided into Greek
and Turkish areas. Many European politicians have since described this as a
mistake, as the Cyprus government has used its position inside the EU to
isolate Turkish Cypriots. “The ideal thing would be to have both countries
joining at the same time," the MEP said, referring to Kosovo and Serbia.
Serbia expects
everything positive from the EU, except Kosovo - a hot potato in the mouth.
Kosovo got independency, someone should accept in Belgrade. It's not possible overnight.
As you know economic stability is primary reason of EU membership. There will
not be easy to become member, there are many things to do. What can they lose?
Kosovo? It's already independent. Actually Serbia could not control Kosovo for
almost a three decade. They have border with Albania, but Kosovars didn't
cooperate in anything.
Is there any other option for Serbia except EU membership in its foreign
policy?
Right now, it seems
there is no another option. Russia is far and didn't invest so much in Serbia,
Greece is in debt. Who will help? Milosevic try to walk alone and gave up.
Does Russia support Serbia's Eu membership?
Yes, why not? It's
better to sell expensive gas to EU and young members or candidates. Russia only
does not support Serbian NATO membership. The enlargement process of the EU
continues, and the Union's eastern border has reached to the Balkan countries
and the Black Sea. During the Cold War, Russia saw Balkans as backyard is a fact.
Primarily need to mention here is that the Russia's Cold War tactics that will
not be very effective in the Balkans today, because Russia has not a good offer
for Balkan countries to be an alternative for EU.
However, Russia has
not given up her interests in the Balkans. The EU aims to diversify away from
Russian natural gas supplies, but Russian gas supplies destined for Europe will
pass directly through the Balkans. Thus, Russia will continue to remain
Europe's primary energy supplier.
Moreover, Serbia
cannot be an island inside the EU. Switzerland is exception with reason. Russia
intend to have own player inside EU. Why to do that? Gas is very expensive now.
In last 10 years, the price was going up for 70-100%.
If Serbia joins to Eu, how it will affect Western Balkans?
You cannot be new
member and immediately spread some negative things, but if Serbia joins to the
EU, Western Balkans positively affected by this
imminent event. Serbia’s EU Membership can provide more stability in
this region.
İsa Burak GONCA
References
European Commission, “Enlargement: Serbia”, 2014,
JOY, Oliver “Serbian Prime Minister: We will be next to
join European Union”, CNN, 2013,
Kosovo Compromise, “Serbia Must Recognise Kosovo to Join
EU, MEP”, 2014,
RUPNIK, Jacques, “The
Western Balkans and The EU: The hour of Europe”, Chaillot Papers, June 2011
Posts
