Its leaders The European Union promised future membership in the bloc today six neighbors from the Balkans, reiterating a promise made for the first time 18 years ago, but did not set a timeline for the next step.
After weeks of discussions, the “27” agreed that the Serbia, the Montenegro, the Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Northern Macedonia, the Kosovo and the Albania have a place in the world’s largest trade union, if meet the criteria in areas ranging from judicial reform to finance.
But with the “enlargement process” stalled due to various disagreements in Brussels and the reluctance of Serbian political leaders to recognize Kosovo’s independence in 2008, many in the Balkans feel that the EU declaration is an empty statement, Reuters reports.
«The EU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans“, States the final declaration of the summit. “The EU “It reaffirms its commitment to the enlargement process,” he said, although leaders insisted the Union was focusing on “credible reforms by partners, and fair and strong conditions and the principle of autonomy”.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called the Balkan countries “family”, while the French president Emanuel Macron adopted a similar tone, saying that the Balkans are “in the heart of Europe” and deserve a road to EU membership.
However, northern countries such as Denmark, the France and the Netherlands fear a repeat of the hasty accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 and its mismanagement immigration Eastern European workers in Britain who turned many Britons against the EU.
At the same time, the Bulgaria is placed against the accession of Northern Macedonia, which is already a member of NATO, due to a language dispute.
The EU is by far the largest foreign investor and trading partner of the six countries that emerged from its dissolution Yugoslavia and the ethnic wars of the 1990s.
Slovenian Presidency attempt to set “target” date failed
But an effort by the EU presidency. Sloveniato set a target date for the accession of the six Balkan countries 2030 failed and the Union also failed to deliver on tangible promises to citizens, such as visa-free travel to Kosovo.
The German chancellor Angela Merkel and the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that setting a deadline for accession “goes a long way” for some EU countries.
“I do not really believe in setting dates. I believe in keeping our promises: provided that “The conditions are met, accession can take place,” Merkel told reporters.
Moreover, EU enlargement from 27 to 33 members would complicate decision-making and require internal EU reform. which few countries would like to start, something they acknowledged in their statements to journalists, the Macron and the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic admitted, meanwhile, that his country would not be able to join the EU. unless resolved pending issues with Kosovo.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti expressed his disappointment with the EU, noting that five countries are still do not recognize Kosovo’s independence. This is mainly due to the fear of encouraging separatist movements at home, as in Catalonia of Spain.
Messages of geopolitical interest were sent by the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz“If the European Union does not offer a real perspective in this region, we should know that other superpowers – China, Russia or Turkey – will play a bigger role there.”
“The region belongs to Europe geographically, and it needs a European perspective,” he concluded.
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