An important step

As relates to ex-Yugoslavia nothing is simple. Even former Finnish President Martii Ahtisaari has had to admit it. His unquestionable diplomatic skills – put into practice as UN mediator for the status of Kosovo that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize – weren’t enough to find a meeting point on the so-called “border question” between the governments of Slovenia and Croatia”. In 2003 Croatia submitted a request for EU membership and officially became EU candidate country on June 18 2004. However, its expectations encountered the veto of Slovenia, currently sole EU Member Country among the many States that emerged from the ashes of Tito’s Yugoslavia. Until the veto persists, it is hard to imagine extending EU membership to Serbia, with heavy consequences also on the future of Kosovo as well as on the Balkan-Adriatic scenario. The bone of contention between Lubiana and Zagreb is primarily the maritime border in the Gulf of Piran (involving the epeiric strip and the related economic areas) and the land strip of the Dragona region in Istria. A large amount of economic interests are at stake, notably regarding the fishing sector.Having ascertained the government’s inability to reach an agreement, Oli Rehn, EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, had proposed entrusting negotiations to a “super partes” figure, whom he identified in Ahtisaari. But before the parties’ intransigence the mediator was forced to renounce, claiming that the only possible option was resorting to international arbitration. In the past few days, significant developments occurred. Mauro Ungaro, Balkan policy expert briefed us on the issue.A new chapter has been opened in the dispute regarding the maritime borders in the Gulf of Piran, between Slovenia and Croatia, on which depends Zagreb’s EU membership negotiations that reached a standstill December 2008. In fact, Lubiana set the dispute resolution as the binding condition for its consensus to Zagreb’s request. A few days ago, Sabor – Croatian Parliament – groups authorized premier Ivo Sanader unto accepting Commissioner Rein’s proposal of delegating the question to international arbitration. Five expert jurists are expected to be in charge, the two parties are called to appoint one each, and find an agreement on the remaining three (if they shouldn’t succeed the three jurists will be appointed by the President of The Hague International Court of Justice). This is a significant initial step – tenaciously pursued by Commissioner Rein – after Noble Prize winner Martii Ahtisaari was forced to express his helplessness before the parties’ unbending stands. This gesture is also “engendered” by the upcoming national elections in Croatia, due to be held in mid May. There is widespread “yearning” for Europe on the part of the population, while the Country’s major political parties have a stake in being viewed as the adhesion advocates by the voters. Now it’s Lubiana’s turn to give its consensus to the Commission that will come into force after ratification by the respective parliaments. For the Slovenian parties – in view of elections for the renewal of its MEPs – the question consists in finding a position that will not be viewed as “subsidence”, since it would trigger the opposition of nationalistic constituency. However, it must be underlined that it won’t be an easy task, considering that the two parties expressed differing positions even on the working “modalities”. Indeed, Croatia claims referral to international law while Slovania advocates the equality principle.Brussels can’t further delay Zagreb’s adhesion given the political implications of enlargement, especially in the difficult Balkan area. And while some propose resorting to the so-called “condominium principle”, as defined by international legislators, Zagreb’s hopes of celebrating EU membership in the year 2011 are increasing.