EU: Kosovo still far away

Law rule and normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina are key things that must be met for Serbia's eventual EU membership.

According to the Serbian team's chief negotiator in the EU, Tanja Mischevic, accession negotiations are not progressing on the right speed.

She has said that some Balkan countries do not want to enter the EU or have specific goals of slowing down the process, writes '%Blicı.

While, EP rapporteur for Serbia David McCalister earlier declared that Serbia must fight against corruption, have rule of law, media freedom and resolve the Kosovo issue.

All legal, political and economic conditions must be met to become an EU member. They need to close down on 35”, McCalister said.

However, according to political science lawmakers Filip Stojanovic, resolving problems with Kosovo is not enough to enter the EU.

Citizens may think that this is enough, but they forget that the essence is in reform and change across the country. We and neighboring countries are mired in corruption, with troubled economies and these are things that need to be changed. Rule of law is actually something that runs through all segments of life and these are the biggest problems”, he said.

On the other hand, he has added that it is not the question whether the EU wants to accept Serbia, but if we want and are ready. “I would say that we are not yet because it has nothing to do with the political conditions”, Stojanovic has finished.

Region countries on road to EU

Kosovo

The EU is still far, especially since Kosovo has not been recognised as a state by five EU member states. However, the euro is the currency of Kosovo, and it is also associated with European legislation. Corruption is one of its major problems.

Montenegro

Negotiations last five years and 28 out of 33 chapters are open, while three have been provisionally closed. Montenegro is the first to enter the EU and is estimated this could happen in 2025. At the same time, Montenegro is also the youngest member NATO.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Negotiations are not on the horizon. Bosnia has many internal problems -- from status to bilateral divisions -- and that makes the EU not top its priorities. This country has not signed in the Southeast European Transport Community contract because it has not had the consent of the country's leadership.

Macedonia

More than 10 years has been in EU candidate status, and there is still no date for starting negotiations. Problems similar to other Balkan countries, what distinguishes it is that EU member Greece refuses to recognise its name. It is now possible to speed things up with the current government.

Albania

Official negotiations with the EU have not yet begun, while corruption and organised crime are serious problems. The extenuating circumstance may be because this country is a member of NATO and that it is not charged with inheriting war from Yugoslav wars, so there are no problems with the countries of the region. /Lajmi.net/