Negotiations, proceeding slowly

At what point is the process of rapprochement to the European Union of the Balkans and Turkey? Although EU institutions have long clarified that no further enlargements of the EU’s borders will take place at least for the next five years, negotiations with “candidate” and “potential candidate” Countries are underway, albeit at a slow pace. Transformation power. This can be seen also in the “enlargement package” and the specific reports, country by country, illustrated on October 8 by Czech Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Füle, with an indication of the areas deserving major efforts in order to access the successive stages of EU adhesion. The document lists all candidate Countries, namely: Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Macedonia; Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are described as potential candidates (while last year Iceland unilaterally decided to suspend the process). In the report, addressed to the European Parliament, the last of Füle’s five-year mandate (who in the next Commission is expected to be replaced by Johannes Hahn, from Austria), the Commissioner provides an overview of the “enlargement” political tool “that has strengthened its credibility and transformation powers” turning it a “technical process” into “the best foreign affairs instrument of the European Union”. Positive aspects. “The EU enlargement policy contributes to everyone’s benefit in terms of peace, security and prosperity”, is stated in the enlargement Strategy, as it provides greater economic and political force to the EU and it exercises a “powerful transformative effect” on the involved Countries. For example: “It is strengthening peace and stability in the Western Balkans by promoting recovery and reconciliation after the wars of the 1990s”. At the same time, it is clear to the Commission that, if well prepared, enlargement does occur “to the detriment of the Union’s efficiency” as it “ensures that high levels of quality of life are also applied beyond its borders, thereby reducing risks for EU citizens” and also because “a larger single market is more attractive to investors”. There are three key priorities on which aspiring Member States are asked to concentrate their efforts: the rule of law and the respect of fundamental rights; governance and economic competitiveness; the strengthening of democratic institutions. This third point is “still poor in most of the Countries” in question, as “the reform of public administration” still lags behind, coupled by high levels of politicization and lack of transparency”. The latter will be the focus of the coming months, also through “special groups on public administration”. Progress and delays. In January 2014 Serbia opened access negotiations “making a serious start”, but it is crucial that “for Serbia to continue its commitment to regional cooperation”, normalisation of relations with Kosovo and “continuous implementation in good faith of all agreements reached in the dialogue”, states the document summarising all 7 national reports. The same is demanded of Kosovo, which signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. The report highlights “the failure to constitute the new legislature smoothly and in a timely manner”, after past March’s elections, “is a setback” for Kosovo, causing a slowdown in its reform process. Montenegro is involved in EU access negotiations since June 2012, although it “failed to respect the deadlines” on a set of issues. The document highlights the need for “appropriate rules on the public financing of political parties” and a more rigorous application of the electoral law. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia lacks the requirements to continue with the negotiations: the EU calls for “decisive action to deal with the danger of the increasing politicization and poor independence of the judicial system and limits of freedom of expression” in a State where “special interests continue to prevail over national interests”. Complex situations. Albania, which past June obtained a “candidate Country” status features a set of achievements, such as the government’s commitment against organized crime and drug trafficking. The present “deteriorated” political situation needs “greater transparency and inclusiveness” in the promotion of democracy, in particular the right of opposition in parliament. A standstill was registered for Bosnia-Herzegovina, where “citizens’ yearning for reforms clashes against the lack of a political movement”. Europe is pressing and calls on the Government that will take office after the elections of 12 October to address the social and economic reforms in compliance with the “pact for growth”. As for Turkey serious concerns regard independence of the judiciary and the protection of fundamental freedoms. “This said, the future of the EU and of Turkey are inevitably interlaced”, Füle said presenting the Report. Already a strategic economic and business partner, it may gain the same role also in the realm of cooperation for migration and energy policies, on the condition of a solution to its problems with Cyprus.