New EU Strategy: Only Serbia and Montenegro Will Get Deadlines

BiH, (Patria) - Serbia and Montenegro are the only Western Balkan countries that will receive a clear calendar deadline in the European Commission's Strategy for possible accession to the European Union (EU) by 2025, while dates for the European integration of the other four countries in the region will not be mentioned, writes Radio Free Europe, referring to the latest and final version of the Strategy on the credible perspective of the Western Balkans, the text of which was adopted at a meeting of the heads of cabinet in the European Commission.

In the document to which Radio Free Europe has insight, Montenegro and Serbia are again qualified as leaders in the region and their admission to the EU is foreseen in seven years.

"Accession negotiations are underway with Montenegro and Serbia. With strong political will, the provision of realistic and sustainable reforms, and definitive solutions to disputes with neighbours, they could potentially be ready for membership by 2025," it is stated in the final version of the European Commission's Strategy, which will be published in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

The other Western Balkan countries will only receive a perspective for European integration from this document, without feasible calendar deadlines for possible accession.

"The Commission is ready to prepare recommendations for opening accession negotiations with Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, based on fulfilled conditions. With sustained efforts and commitment, Bosnia and Herzegovina could become a candidate for membership. Kosovo has the possibility of sustainable progress through the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and to advance on its European path when objective circumstances permit," the document states.

In addition to these substantive changes, the European Commission's strategy has also undergone changes in the language that this institution will use in the document.

The European Commission has abandoned the ambition in the strategy to reach a comprehensive agreement on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo by the end of 2019, as emphasized in previous versions. The strategy emphasizes that a "comprehensive, legally binding agreement on normalization must be urgently concluded."

The EU has tightened the language in the rule of law chapter, in the text of the strategy on the Western Balkans, and clearly warns that the countries of the region will become EU members, "but not in the state they are in today."

The latest version of the Strategy for the Western Balkans states that the political elite in the countries of the region is connected with criminal structures.

"Today, countries show clear elements of a 'captured' state, including links with organized crime and corruption at all levels of government and administration, as well as strong interference of public and private interests," it is stated in the latest version of the Strategy, assessing that all this fosters a sense of impunity and inequality.

The latest version of this document warns that there is "extensive political interference in and control over the media."

"A visibly strengthened and independent judiciary, as well as responsible governments and administrations, are necessary for bringing about the lasting social changes that are needed," the latest text of the Strategy states.

European Commission Strategy for the Western Balkans

Regarding open bilateral issues between the countries in the region, the text of the Strategy clearly states that before the admission of the Western Balkan countries to the EU, definitive and binding solutions must be "found and implemented."

"The EU cannot and will not import bilateral disputes," the text of the Strategy states.

When it comes to unresolved border disputes between these countries, the European Commission believes that the parties should "unconditionally submit them to binding, final arbitration," such as the International Court of Justice.

The arbitration decisions on borders should be fully applied and respected by both parties before admission to the EU, and this should also be taken into account when preparing the Accession Agreement.

The European Commission has specific remarks in the economy chapter as well, where it is also emphasized that there is political interference.

"Critical parts of the economy in the region are uncompetitive, with too much unnecessary political interference and an underdeveloped private sector," it is stated.

MEP Jasenko Selimović previously stated for the Patria agency that the EU's attitude towards BiH depends primarily on the policies pursued by politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., their readiness to lead the country towards accession to the European Union, and not away from European values, and that one should not expect Brussels to do what the official policy in BiH should do.