EU moves policy on FYROM, Kosovo
The European Commission proposed Wednesday to launch a process aimed at allowing people in Kosovo to travel to the E.U. without visas, and lay the foundations for a trade agreement.
Also today, the European Commission Wednesday recommended that negotiations begin with Macedonia on joining the club of European Union countries, almost four years after it was made a candidate.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 and while more than 60 countries have recognized it as a state, including the U.S., five E.U. nations have not.
But the E.U. remains concerned that Kosovo will lag behind its neighbors in the western Balkans in their efforts to implement the reforms needed to join Europe’s rich club.
To keep up the pace, Brussels offered in a statement “to start work towards visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens. It also proposes to prepare trade relations with Kosovo.”
It also said it would explore ways for Kosovo to take part in some European programmes, with involvement in employment, business and education, and to boost political dialogue.
“These measures will show Kosovo that E.U. approximation is not something abstract, but that it is about real, tangible benefits for all,” E.U. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a statement.
“We now call on E.U. member states to agree to our proposals and to ensure Kosovo keeps pace with developments in the rest of the Western Balkans.”
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as it is formally known following a U.N.-mediated name dispute with neighbors Greece, was blocked from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in April 2008 and has also been blocked by Greece from opening E.U. negotiations.
The commission “recommends opening adhesion negotiations” with Macedonia, said Enlargment Commissioner Olli Rehn as he unveiled an annual report into membership prospects for candidates Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia, as well as wannabees Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo – but not late runners Iceland.
Greece has opposed international recognition of its northern neighbor under the name Macedonia since 1991 because it considers the name part of Greek heritage. There is a northern Greek province with the same name.
Rehn said he viewed the start of negotiations “as a very strong encouragement to settle the name issue and thus remove this from the agenda, and I trust that the government in Skopje gets this message as well.”
Macedonia has been a candidate country since December 2005, and the commission said much of the preliminary work has already been achieved, although laws on its parliament, civil service and the financing of political parties are also required.
“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made good progress in improving its ability to assume the obligations of membership, in particular as concerns transport, customs, and taxation and justice, freedom and security,” the report said.
“The key accession partnership priorities regarding the reform of the police, the judiciary, public administration and corruption have been substantially addressed.”
Meanwhile, it added: “The legal and institutional framework for human rights and the protection of minorities is broadly in place.”
October 14, 2009
AFP
Why do they keep breaking the law unresolution 1244 even states that no one can do what they did.I dont get it ,the sooner Tadic is out Nikolic is in
niko.
The Serbian people have to wake up before the next election,and make sure the votes are not counted in Washington.
I just came back from Serbia. I can tell you that Serbs don’t care about Serbia, Kosovo or anything else for that matter.
They are euro wannabees and will sell their soul to the devil in order to join the satan-worshiping EU.
It’s really sad, but unfortunately game over for all God-fearing, Christ-loving people in the world.
There are no bastions of freedom left.
Welcome to the brave new world (order).