Enlarging the borders

Despite ongoing difficulties the European Union continues believing in the enlargement process. Croatia already has a foot in the “common home”, and hands are extended towards the Balkan States, where Serbia sees a glimpse of EU membership candidacy. And while the entry of small Iceland is taken for granted, large Turkey is slowing down – if not stopping – its rush towards adhesion. On the plan of accession negotiations the Commission preserves the perspective of extending EU borders, although this might entail further questions on EU identity. For a more stable Europe. On October 12 the EU Commission led by Barroso released a set of annual reports, each of which was dedicated to a EU candidate country (five States have obtained EU candidate status to date), to potential candidates (the Western Balkans), or to “potential candidates” that have not applied for a membership status (Bosnia-Herzegovina). Accession negotiations were completed for Croatia, due to become the 28th EU Member State as of July 1st 2013. The Commission recommends to the EU Council and Parliament the opening of accession negotiations with Montenegro (that obtained candidate status in 2010 but has been in stand-by since then) and granting EU candidate status to Serbia. Useless denying that the prospects of enlargement, with the support of a large part (if non the totality) of the European Parliament, is a reason for concern for many EU27 leaders, who fear they will have to pay heavy dues to help candidates comply with EU requirements. In presenting the annual reports, Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle remarked: “Today’s recommendations for Montenegro and Serbia show that the enlargement process is stimulating reforms on the ground and helping to create a more stable and prosperous Europe”. It is the line undertaken by the Commission since the times of the great enlargement to the East. Commissioner Füle added: “The transformational power of the enlargement process sends a powerful message of hope at this challenging time, both for European Union Member States and for the enlargement countries”.Balkans: pros and cons. Thus in a year that has seen the closure of accession negotiations with Croatia, “there has been further progress elsewhere in the Western Balkans”, the Commission states. The arrest of the two remaining ICTY indictees “removed a major stumbling block from Serbia’s European path and marked an important step towards reconciliation in the region”. A dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, capital of Kosovo, was established “and has yielded initial results. This needs to be pursued constructively”. Montenegro “has strengthened its reform efforts based on the priorities set out by the European Union”, while the ex Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia insists for the reopening of negotiations. The report underlines: “The Balkan region is marked by considerable challenges that include the legal framework, the rule of Law, administrative capacity, unemployment and economic reforms,” while “problems linger on” in the area of regional cooperation. The implementation of important reforms “was postponed” in several Countries also because of events and clashes at national level. Negative trends are registered as relates to the freedom of expression in the media.The knot of Turkey. 12 “key priorities”, critical to the opening of accession negotiations, have been identified for Albania, that filed its EU adhesion request in 2009. Although “Albania’s government made efforts to move ahead in some of these areas”, the Commission concluded that “conditions for opening of accession negotiations have not yet been met”. The Commission “encourages the political forces in Albania to re-establish and sustain a level of political dialogue allowing the functioning of key democratic institutions and the implementation of essential reforms”. Iceland presents no specific problem, according to the Commission, exception made for the important issue of fisheries. Conversely, there are increasing problems in the case of Turkey, whose accession negotiations have been deadlocked for the past year. For the Commission, “Turkey’s accession process is the most efficient framework to promote reforms, develop dialogue on issues regarding foreign affairs and security, stepping up economic competitiveness”. But there are growing concerns in the relations with Cyprus, which are worse now, (also given the EU presidency-in-office that Cyprus will assume in the second semester of 2012), with Greece, and more in general, in the internal political framework, on the protection of fundamental rights, the defence of religious freedom, ethnic minorities (Kurds, Armenians) and of women.