LOCAL PRESS

India opposes Pristina’s membership in international organizations (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke today with Ambassador of India to Serbia Narinder Chauhan, who conveyed to Brnabic congratulations from the Prime Minister of India on her appointment as Prime Minister of Serbia. Brnabic stressed the importance of the traditional and friendly relations between the two countries in the year when Serbia and India celebrate 70 years of establishing diplomatic relations. She especially thanked India for the support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia. Ambassador Chauhan emphasized that India opposes membership of the so-called Kosovo in international organizations, the government Office for Media Cooperation stated. They discussed economic cooperation and opportunities for new investments and projects. Ambassador Chauhan presented the project “Digital India”, which this country is implementing and offered assistance and cooperation of Indian and Serbian companies in the field of digitalization and IT sector, since these are the priorities in the work of the government of Serbia.

Serbia committed to regional peace, stability (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic spoke today with rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Samad Seyidov and Maria Guzenina. The topics of the meeting were the results of the Western Balkans Summit held in Trieste and the geopolitical situation in the region, with a special focus on European integration and the Brussels dialogue. On this occasion, Dacic underlined Serbia’s commitment to regional peace and stability, as well as to the continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
The PACE rapporteurs are visiting Serbia in order to monitor the implementation of the Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 1858 (2012) on the respect of duties and obligations of Serbia, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dacic, Crnadak open new B&H Embassy building in Belgrade (Beta/RTS)

Serbian and B&H foreign ministers Ivica Dacic and Igor Crnadak inaugurated on July 18 the new embassy B&H building in Belgrade, calling it another step toward establishing the best possible relations between the two countries. Dacic and Crnadak told reporters that the past could not be changed but that the present and future could, and that Serbia and B&H should work on that together. Dacic said that, in times of big challenges, the past should bring different sides together and not apart and added that bilateral relations represented an example of neighborliness in the region of the Western Balkans. Crnadak said that his and Dacic’s arrival to attend the embassy’s opening was the best message of the honesty of both sides. “We must continue down the road of understanding, better communication, trust, and leaving all bad things behind us,” Crnadak said and added that Serbia and Bosnia were linked through their identical foreign policy goals, as both countries were striving toward membership in the EU, and added that the European framework would put an end to all of the misunderstandings between Serbia and Bosnia and the entire Balkans. Crnadak said that he expected two directions of improving relations between Serbia and Bosnia in the future, one of which was from Belgrade toward Sarajevo, where he expected more trust and unity in the coming period, and the other direction of bringing Republika Srpska and Serbia closer.

Serbian government soon to debate Russian Humanitarian Center in Nis (Novosti)

It really isn’t normal nor is it clear to me why they are opposing granting immunity to the Russian humanitarians in Nis, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Novosti. He has announced that the issue of the status of the officials of this center will soon be on the agenda of the government. The issue of the status of this center has been updated after the statement of the Frontex Director Fabrice Leggeri that the liaison officer of this organization in Belgrade will receive diplomatic immunity. Dacic confirmed this information, along with an explanation that at issue is usual practice and that representatives of the International Red Cross also have this privilege. However, according to Novosti’s unofficial information, Frontex had requested earlier diplomatic status for all of its officials who could join the control of borders on Serbian territory over the migrant crisis. This request by Brussels, which was rejected at the time, was interpreted also as a response to the possibility for the Russians to receive immunity.

Bujanovac Municipality protests over closing down of alternative crossings to Kosovo (Beta)

Representatives of the Bujanovac municipality stated on Tuesday that the blockade of two “alternative crossings” towards Kosovo – at the villages of Dobrosin and Breznica, directly endangered freedom of movement. They demanded that the crossings be opened since in the summer there are crowds at the Konculj crossing, said the chief of cabinet of the Bujanovac Mayor Rahim Salihi. On the blockade of the Dobrosin and Breznica crossings for citizens who live outside these villages, the Mayor of Bujanovac Shaip Kamberi also informed the OSCE Mission, and the liaison officer of Kosovo in Belgrade Valdet Sadiku. Salihi told Beta that the unannounced closing down of the crossings had disturbed the citizens of Bujanovac who use these crossings much more frequently than the official crossing of Konculj. According to him, the blockade of the Dobrosin and Breznica crossings lasted one day, and the police only allows the inhabitants of the villages of Dobrosin and Breznica to pass through, while the stop others from crossing.

REGIONAL PRESS

Vulin and Vukicevic might be summoned as first witnesses in case related to Dodik’s statement on return of Bosniaks in Podrinje region (TV1/Glas Srpske)

Minister of Defense of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin and Ambassador of Serbia to B&H Stanimir Vukicevic might be summoned as witnesses in the case opened by the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H with regard to the statement of RS President Milorad Dodik on return of Bosniaks to Republika Srpska (RS). The presenter reminded that Dodik gave his statement on the occasion of marking of the anniversary of sufferings of soldiers and civilians of Podrinje region on July 7 and Vulin and Vukicevic attended this ceremony. Head of the Serb Caucus in the House of Peoples (HoP) of the parliament of B&H Sredoje Novic (SNSD) said that the fact the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H decided to launch an investigation only several hours after Bosniak member of the Presidency of B&H Bakir Izetbegovic requested sanctions against President of the RS Milorad Dodik shows that everything had been agreed beforehand. Secretary-General of DNS Dragutin Rodic said that the fact the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H has formed the case almost immediately should not surprise anyone. “It is clear what is in the interest of certain people, because investigation against Dodik in connection with referendum on the Day of the RS was suspended only a couple of days ago, and new case has been formed almost immediately after”, Rodic said. He concluded that all of this proves that certain politicians in B&H, especially those from SDA, are controlling the work of the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H. The Civic Alliance (GS) issued a statement assessing that “a theatrical performance” by SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic from two days ago because of the most recent in series of SNSD leader Milorad Dodik’s attacks on returnees is “funny and pathetic”, and is most probably a show for audience that was previously agreed.

SDA’s Genjac announces SDA will not support HDZ B&H’s proposal of Law on Elections of B&H (Hayat)

Acting Secretary General of SDA Halid Genjac confirmed that B&H Constitutional Court (CC)’s decision on HDZ B&H’s amendments to the Election Law of B&H arrived at the B&H Parliament’s records management office. Genjac explained that this means that conditions for including that item in agenda of Wednesday’s session of B&H House of Peoples (HoP) have been met. Genjac added that, in case the proposal is adopted by the HoP of B&H parliament, then it will be sent to the House of Representatives (HoR) of B&H Parliament but it is still unknown if the proposal will be sent to B&H HoR in regular or urgent procedure. Genjac briefly confirmed that HDZ B&H’s proposal will not get the support of SDA.

Mektic’s statements spark reactions of SNSD and Croat officials (RTRS)

Statements of B&H Minister of Security Dragan Mektic given at the press conference in Sarajevo on Monday sparked reactions in the public on Tuesday. RTRS reminds that Mektic called the recent meeting between HDZ B&H and SNSD in Mostar a coalition “Za Dom Spremni” (an Ustasha slogan “For Home (Land) Ready”) and noted that Acting Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H Gordana Tadic protects interests of these two parties.

SNSD officials commented that Mektic’s statements are inappropriate for someone who obtains a ministerial post. Head of the SNSD Caucus in the RS National Assembly (RSNA) Radovan Viskovic stated that Mektic should advocate the fight against “such behavior and similar deviations, certainly not to encourage them.” SNSD MP in B&H House of Representatives Stasa Kosarac reminded that in the past three years the Alliance for Changes (SzP) has used every single opportunity to attack the RS institutions, in cooperation with their political mentor B&H Presidency member and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic. Croat politicians also condemned Mektic’s statements, stressing that “labeling political opponents and shallow conclusions are not the way a minister should behave.” Delegate in the Croat Caucus in the B&H House of Peoples (HoP) Mario Karamatic (HSS) commented that Mektic’s press conference was more like a “standup comedy” than addressing of a serious politician, noting that certain SDS officials have told him that SDS does not share Mektic’s stances. At the press conference in Sarajevo on Monday, Mektic wondered how come that few of criminalized politicians and holders of judicial functions in B&H can dominate over some four million citizens. In a statement given to N1, Mektic explained that his statement refers to close ties between corruption, policy and crime, as well as to withdrawal of public money for private benefits. Commenting on this issue, HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic told N1 that such statements should be discussed at B&H Presidency. “This speaks enough about all of us, i.e. those who give such statements and the situation in the state. Therefore, B&H Presidency will include these topics in the agenda in order to eliminate the possibility for someone to make speculations about these things”, Covic stressed.

Mogherini emphasizes importance of adoption of Law on Excise Duties and signing of Transport Community Treaty (EuroBlic)

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini met with B&H Presidency Chair Dragan Covic in Brussels. Mogherini said that the process of accession of B&H to the EU will depend on speed of implementation of reforms in the country and added that the adoption of the Law on Excise Duties of B&H and signing of the Transport Community Treaty as soon as possible are of the crucial importance when it comes to the Reform Agenda. Mogherini emphasized that the Reform Agenda now needs a new momentum at the level of B&H, Republika Srpska and especially at the level of the Federation of B&H. Covic also met with President of the European Council Donald Tusk and Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. The EU officials expressed their support to European journey of B&H and Covic’s intention to again accelerate B&H’s journey in cooperation with his colleagues.

Lajcak: B&H created hostage of itself, one does not join EU with help from so-called Bonn powers or sanctions (Dnevni list)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic announced that B&H will meet conditions for activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) and getting status of EU candidate by end of this year. On the other hand, Slovakian Foreign Minister and former High Representative Miroslav Lajcak said that he does not see B&H as an EU candidate next year. “Especially not in these circumstances”, added Lajcak. He argued that at the Trieste Summit, where only B&H did not sign the Transport Community Treaty, showed that “B&H is creating a hostage of itself”. According to him, politicians, due to their inability to agree in the name of the European future, have isolated their country, adding that politicians in B&H prefer partisan and personal interests to interests of the country and citizens. The Slovakian FM further noted that one does not join the EU with the help from the so-called Bonn powers or sanctions, arguing that, unfortunately, the international community (IC) created a habit among politicians in B&H that the IC “solves your problems”. “It does not go that way with Euro-integration, especially when there is no enthusiasm for the EU enlargement. One needs to make double efforts to join the EU”, said Minister Lajcak.

President: Army should have responded earlier to contain wildfires (Hina)

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said on Tuesday that the army should have responded earlier to help contain a disastrous wildfire near Split and called for an investigation to establish how the fire broke out and spread. Shortly after, Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic tendered his resignation. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic refused to accept the resignation of Defense Minister, saying that army personnel were engaged to assist in firefighting efforts in Dalmatia in accordance with the law. After which the President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic also stated that she expects Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic to withdraw his resignation as there “is absolutely no reason for it.”

Slovenia says expects at least small signal from Zagreb regarding arbitration ruling (Hina)

Croatia’s position on the border dispute with Slovenia following the arbitration ruling remains unchanged, Slovenia expects at least “a small signal” from Zagreb that it is willing to change its position while Austria expects the dialogue between the two countries to continue and is willing to help, the Presidents of Croatia, Slovenia and Austria concluded at a meeting in Salzburg on Tuesday.

NATO sends help to Montenegro (RTCG/Dnevne novine)

Montenegro sent to NATO help request seeking two Canadair water bombers in order to fight huge wildfire at the Lustica peninsula. NATO and its allies will help Montenegro fight the wildfires by sending a Canadair firefighting aircraft. NATO stated that the Montenegrin authorities had sent a request for assistance from the alliance on Monday, asking NATO to send a Canadair to help Montenegro fight the fires spreading across the country. “This was done through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), which was immediately delivered to the national centers of the NATO allies and to all the partner countries that own this type of aircraft. As soon as it is determined which country can help, the Montenegrin authorities will immediately complete the necessary procedures to get the requested assistance,” a NATO official said. He also explained that EADRCC was NATO’s principal civil emergency response mechanism in the Euro-Atlantic area. The Centre is ready to respond to emergency situations in the Euro-Atlantic region and functions as a clearing-house system for coordinating both requests and offers of assistance mainly in case of natural and man-made disasters. It is active all year round, operational on a 24/7 basis. A request for international assistance is activated within two hours after it is received. Montenegro requested international assistance from this body following floods in December 2010 and heavy snowfall in February 2012. In both cases, NATO members and the partners responded positively to the urgent needs of Montenegro and the provided assistance.

Nimetz: New impetus in efforts to solve name issue (MIA)

The name issue is high on the agenda of the government in Skopje and there is a new impetus in the efforts over its settlement, says United Nations Envoy Matthew Nimetz. “The government in Skopje is eager to reactivate its foreign policy in the region and obviously the name issue is an important impediment to the path to European integration, to NATO membership. So this is a high issue on their agenda and I think therefore there is a new impetus”, Nimetz says in an interview with the Independent Balkan News Agency (IBNA). Regarding the next steps, Nimetz says he visited Skopje and talked to Greek FM Nikos Kotzias and announced he would be in touch with the parties in the coming months towards development of a new game plan for moving forward. When asked if there are any proposals about the name, Nimetz says he made no proposals. “There have been proposals in the past and I think right now it’s a time for talking about some basic concepts before we get down to proposals”, he adds.

Mogherini: The dedication is allowing us to direct all of our energy into the reforms (Meta)

The head of the Macedonian diplomacy, Nikola Dimitrov, and the VP for European Issues, Bujar Osmani, at the 13 meeting of the Council for Stabilization and Association where the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn took part in, have presented the government’s plan “3-6-9.” Dimitrov and Osmani, as reported by the Secretariat for European Issues, have thanked for the support from the international partners for its creation, stressing that a support is expected in the future. At the joint conference with Hahn, Dimitrov and Osmani, Mogherini has stressed that the country has been facing a deep crisis, but that the EU has always provided help in its solution.

“Skopje has faced with a deep and long political crisis. In the last year, the European Union stood strongly on your side during that difficult period for the country, trying to mediate in the political agreement that led towards a solution in accordance with the Constitution. We are glad that today we see a new beginning, optimism and a strong dedication that is allowing us to direct all our energy in the reforms that are necessary for the citizens but are also necessary for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integrations and the region’s as well” said Mogherini. Hahn stressed that during the meeting there were talks about the priorities in the implementation of the reforms and that the opposition has to be constructive. “The government has enormous tasks in front of it and we talked how to set priorities and to provide sustainable reforms. We greet and respect all the efforts to be working with all parties including the opposition, but for this, we need a constructive opposition. What is important is to allow an inclusive and constructive way for advancing the EU agenda” said Hahn.

Minister Dimitrov stressed that the new government has to work on fulfilling the promises towards the citizens i.e. forming independent and functional institutions that will work in the interest of the citizens and the state. “The new government that was formed after a long and difficult, political and institutional crisis, is a government that has one essential promise towards the citizens and that is building independent and functional institutions that will provide a rule of law in Republic of Macedonia and one leader and not a group of leaders. In this context, that makes us a close partner with the European Union, the European Commission, and the EU member countries” said Dimitrov. Osmani has sent a clear message that “3-6-9” plan will be implemented and that there is an inner social consensus regarding the plan and that the government obliges to implement it. “The working groups have been all prepared ad hoc working bodies as well as procedures for monitoring and early warning for eventual delays in the implementation of the plan” said Osmani during the press conference that took place after the meeting. He stressed that the government is already working on all open political issues such as the relations with the neighbors and the Law for the use of languages.

Zaev: Agreement with Bulgaria clearly states it’s about two states, nations and languages (Meta)

The agreement is a basis for a good neighborly relations and friendship, the two countries will work in the future on a mutual success and it will be good for the national interests of Republic of Macedonia, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev after the end of the closed session of the parliamentary Commission for foreign policy, during which he presented the draft-agreement for good neighborly relations with Bulgaria. “With the agreement, the government is once again affirming the distinction of the Macedonian nation, the Macedonian language and the Macedonian identity. In the agreement, there is no dilemma whether it’s about two states, two nations, and two languages. With the agreement, new perspectives for collaboration between the neighbors are opening up and with it, the process of integration in the European Union and NATO is speeding up. Agreements such as this one are rare without the mediation of the great powers,” said Zaev, who expects this agreement to be signed by 1 August. Zaev also said that the meeting presented an opportunity for him and his advisors to receive suggestions from the government and the opposition in the parliament regarding the document and has also said that until it is signed all options remain open. The Agreement, as he said, will help in the connection of the travel and gas infrastructure between Macedonia and Bulgaria, the trade of goods, services, and capital will be improved, a strong impulse will be given for the building of the Corridor 8 for which at the summit in Trieste Macedonia has received a grant in the amount of 70 million of euros, and there will be customs and border alleviations. The current border passing will be renewed and the Macedonian government will look for a new border passing near Berovo. “Together we shall prevent the malicious propaganda in both countries, together we shall stand against the hate speech and together we shall defeat nationalism. The Republic of Bulgaria strongly supports the entrance of the Republic of Macedonia in the EU and NATO, without conditioning us with solving the name dispute. It will pass all of its experiences with the EU integrations especially with the part of collecting the assets,” said Zaev.

Zaev: Law on languages to be adopted before local elections so no one losses the votes (MIA)

The government will adopt the law on languages before the local elections and will not lose the votes both from the Macedonian and Albanian ethnic communities as a result, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Wednesday. “One thing is for sure. The government will adopt the law before the local elections, and if we are prepared, the bill will also be passed in parliament. You will see the votes of Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs rise in the favor of the ruling coalition”, Zaev told reporters before the business breakfast with the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce (SSK). According to him, the people want solutions to problems. “No one loses anything, everyone has the right of equality in our society, perceiving Macedonia as their own country”, stressed Zaev. He added that the Justice Ministry would soon forward the law to the government, followed by its processing to the Venice Commission and the parliament.

Yee: Politicians to keep word on reforms (ADN)

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hoyt Brian Yee appealed to the Albanian majority and opposition to keep cooperating in the fight against corruption, organized crime and narcotics.

“We are very happy that the Albanian people participated in these elections. The international community considered these elections generally according to international standards. We are happy to see Albanians making use of their democratic right to vote, being part of an important democratic process. Certainly, we are looking forward to the next phase, a new government that we hope will start working as soon as possible for the reforms,” he said. In an interview for the Voice of America, the US senior official spoke about the cooperation between the majority and opposition after the elections. “We want the parties to work harder against corruption among officials, against organized crime and narcotics. We think that these are concerning for all of Albania’s citizens. We aim to continue our partnership with Albania and all parties that want to work with us, so that we can help with the objectives that I mentioned. We want to see further progress in all areas for which we cooperated with the past government,” said the US diplomat. Hoyt Yee declared it is important for the majority to work with other parties in the opposition or even in coalition, in order to find solutions that are acceptable for everyone. “It is up to the Prime Minister and the government to decide who will be involved in the government, for all levels. Certainly, we hope they have an all-inclusive stance, so that the government works with the opposition and other parties that are not with the ruling coalition, so that they can find a way to reach enough consensus for important decisions. This can be done through normal political dialogue, compromises or acceptable solutions for both parties. What is important, the majority and the opposition should focus on the work that Albania must do in the spirit of cooperation, in the spirit of putting interests of citizens above politics, so that they can find solutions to help the country and not only political parties. We believe that the purpose of any compromise should be the realization of reforms for joining the EU,” Yee said. Prime Minister Edi Rama made a clear request during the Task Force meeting on this situation on Tuesday. He urged for the arrest of the drug lords and to seize all their properties and assets. “Our first priority must be the criminals then the plants. We should not only discover drugs and then think about to identify the authors. State Police made progress during these years, but we must arrest the leaders,” said Rama.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

The Berlin Process – the Good Cop of the Balkans’ European Integration (euinside, by Adelina Marini, 18 July 2017)

The long-awaited EU summit with the six countries of the Western Balkans – Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Kosovo – in the Italian city of Trieste on July 12 ended with several important messages not only to the countries of the still too turbulent post-Yugoslav region, but also to the EU itself. Before the start of the several hour-long meeting, the re-establishment of the German-Franco-Italian triangle was announced, last seen in the EU when Mario Monti was prime minister of Italy. The leaders of the three countries met on a beautiful ship, anchored just in front of Trieste’s Unity Square, where the Berlin Process summit took place.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, host of the meeting, said the three leaders have confirmed the need to re-launch the European Union, which is to be more cohesive and stronger. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron admitted “the sins” of their countries and of the EU as a whole that Italy was not helped earlier with the heavy migratory pressure it is facing. “We want to demonstrate solidarity with Italy”, she said, adding that the EU cannot be just a union of economies. “We have to cope with all challenges together”, were her words – a direct message to Central European member states who refuse to show solidarity with regard to migration.

French President Emmanuel Macron believes that humanitarianism needs to be linked to efficiency when addressing the migration crisis. With regard to Europe, he said it should be re-founded. “We need to identify the shortcomings and solve them”, he said, and again stressed the need to find democratic ways to bring the European project to a new life. This is a message to the EU itself, which was also signalled by the European Council at the end of June in Brussels, but also to the Western Balkans. The region still feels that the EU has withdrawn from the region, is in a deep crisis, and has no time to deal with Balkan affairs. The Franco-German-Italian trio decided to show that it is the exact opposite.

Trieste started the economic engine of the European integration of the Western Balkans

The three leaders made these statements after they disembarked the ship and addressed journalists in the burning sunlight before the start of the meeting with the Western Balkans, about which Mrs Merkel said it was “our common duty that these countries develop well and guarantee that they, slowly but surely, move towards the EU”. In her words, the political stability of the region is also political stability for the EU. For Paolo Gentiloni, integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is an irreversible strategic goal. He expressed hope that this process would be accelerated. The big brake, however, lies in the countries of the Western Balkans themselves and their political leadership.

This was clearly articulated by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn (Austria, EPP), who said during one of the numerous pre-summit forums that he worries that society in these countries is divided into two parts – politicians and civil society. He said it was time to put an end to ongoing discussions and dialogues, and move on to actions, establishing rule of law, which would create the right conditions for foreign investment. Johannes Hahn hopes that accelerating the development of the economies of the six countries will provide them with a faster fulfilment of the political criteria. “I’m so convinced that without investing, stimulating the economy we will not be making progress in the area of fundamentals [rule of law, democracy, protection of minority rights, freedom of expression and assembly]”, he said.

The economic part is also the essence of the Berlin process, which was launched in 2014 at the initiative of Germany. It is moving as an addition to the European integration process of the Western Balkans. So far, at annual meetings (here and here) there have been talks about separate small projects, but this year the plan known as “Berlin+” was presented. It consists of two parts. The first is the treaty for the creation of a transport community, which envisages the integration of the region into the EU transport market by bringing legislation and standards of the six Balkan countries closer to the European ones.

In addition, it was agreed to build 7 new infrastructure projects, whose investment value is estimated at 500 million euro. Of these, 194 million will be funded by the EU budget and loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The rest will be national co-financing by the Western Balkans.

The projects are for the construction of motorways that are part of European corridors, that is, their role will be not only to connect countries from the region with each other, but also with the EU. The three motorway projects are in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two projects are for inland water connectivity. One is on the Rhine-Danube corridor, the Brčko port in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the other is to rehabilitate the Đerdap lock between Serbia and Romania. There are also two projects for building railway connections. The first one is in the Orient-Eastern Mediterranean corridor, in Serbia, and the other one is along the same corridor, but in Macedonia.

Another large and anticipated piece of news from the Trieste meeting is the creation of a regional economic area similar to the EU internal market. This is a multi-annual action plan that provides for a gradual easing of trade between the six countries, regional mobility, and the creation of a digital market. The idea of ​​a regional economic zone is based on the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), EU legislation, and the Stabilisation and Association Agreements. The purpose of the plan is to remove obstacles to the free movement of professionals through mutual recognition of professional qualifications (doctors, dentists, architects and civil engineers).

Facilitating trade in goods and services, turning the region into an investment magnet, and digital integration are also envisaged. Part of the digital integration will also be the creation of a roaming-free zone – an idea that the Bulgarian Presidency has been preparing. Despite being invited as a special guest at the Trieste meeting, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov did not present this idea. It is, however, an integral part of the regional economic zone agreement, which talks about coordinating roaming policy towards a roaming-free zone. The approved action plan has specific deadlines and its implementation will be monitored on an annual basis. The EU firmly states that this is not a substitute for membership.

Money against reforms

This year, at the Trieste meeting, the Berlin process began merging with the European integration process. Although the EU, presented by the Italian-German-French trio, has expressed an unwavering commitment to the economic development and integration of the region, it has been clearly stated that there is no easy way to membership. The host, Paolo Gentiloni, recalled that although the meetings of the Berlin Process revolve mainly around the economy, the political scenario – the prospect of reforms, democracy, the fight against corruption, modernisation – should not be forgotten. He said enlargement as such was secondary at the meeting, but there will yet be political discussions in the EU itself on this topic, at which  “we should confirm very openly to our Western Balkan friends that the perspective of EU is open and actively promoted by EU”.

Johannes Hahn also emphasised this by saying that if the Western Balkans want to be attractive to foreign investors, as well as to their own citizens, they must work to improve the quality and independence of their judicial systems and everything else that falls under the term rule of law. In the declaration after the meeting, the countries reaffirm their commitment to democratisation, stabilisation, and striving for external influences not to stand in the way of European integration efforts. The declaration reserves a special place for the civil sector as well, which, especially in Serbia, is facing serious attacks by the government and related media. A special commitment is also being made to fight corruption and organised crime. Pushed through by Italy, which recognises openly that it has serious problems with corruption and organised crime and that that is precisely why it can help, a declaration was signed confirming the common will of Italy and the countries of the Western Balkans to speed up their efforts in this direction. The declaration contains concrete measures that need to be taken like strengthening the systems for preventing corruption, increasing transparency, and the professionalising of public procurement.

The long shadow of bilateral disputes

Although the participants were generally satisfied with the results, there was tension in the air in Trieste. Talks about bilateral issues between countries in the region were deliberately avoided, but they were still served at the table by not just anyone, but two EU member states – Slovenia and Croatia. The two countries have been unable to resolve their border disputes for decades. Prime Ministers Andrej Plenković and Miro Cerar met hours before the start of the meeting in Ljubljana to try to find a solution, but both did not budge an inch from their current positions on the work of the arbitration tribunal from which Croatia unilaterally withdrew two years ago because of revelations of political interference from the Slovenian side.

Another unpleasant piece of news from the summit is that Bosnia and Herzegovina has not signed the Transport Community Treaty due to the resistance of the government of the Serbian entity, Republika Srpska. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini shared her regret about this, but also her hope that the treaty would still be signed in the future. She did, however, warn that BiH has a responsibility to its citizens. “It’s a year in BiH that has no elections. This is a good opportunity for the political leadership to respond to the expectations of their citizens, which is to move forward in the regional integration and in the EU perspective”. In addition, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković admitted that during the meeting there was “a little frustration” on the part of the leaders of the region from the slow integration process in an institutional sense – the negotiations themselves or their launch. Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković, however, was very pleased with the meeting and especially with the EU’s clearly stated commitment. The next meeting of the Berlin process will be held in London next year. That should have been the last meeting of the process, but the participants agreed to continue it.

The EU begins to realise its role

The July 12 summit was yet another step, and a big one, on the part of the EU towards the Western Balkans, which had been left on their own and facing a strong geopolitical current in recent years. The beginning of 2017, when tension in the region rose to the levels of the early 1990s, acted sobering for the EU, as euinside reported.

The Trieste meeting showed that the Berlin Process is starting to play the good cop role. Through it, the EU supports its using the ever more hollow sounding phrase “European perspective” with concrete projects and money, and from non-pre-accession funds at that. Investing in the region serves as a sweetener for the tightening of the noose over the political leadership of the countries in the region, which remains the biggest challenge. The EU’s message is that there will be no easy entry into the EU – the criteria must be met. This was very clearly stated to the recent Brussels favourite – President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić – in Brussels, where he expected to get a specific membership date, but was put to a choice – with the EU or with Russia, with illiberalism or with liberal democracy.

All these are steps in the right direction, but more are needed. Two very difficult tasks remain for the Union. How does it play the geopolitical card to the end, Serbia being the hardest country in this situation. Exerting pressure on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will not be without consequences and can cause political turmoil. The EU must prepare for this. Another problem is the financial commitment following the UK exit. Will the EU be as generous to the countries of the Western Balkans when the money in the common treasury is reduced?

The Union will prove its continued commitment to the region when it sets aside enough money for infrastructure and support for reforms in the six countries during the negotiations over the next multiannual framework. Only then will they really understand what a European perspective really means. In order not to lose control over things, the EU must also engage more actively in mediation to resolve the worst bilateral issues. The fact, that the EU is already seriously talking about the need for democracy and rule of law, since it has been criticised so far for its preference to stability (stabilocracy being the term of Dr. Florian Bieber) to democracy, is also commendable. However, the biggest test remains at home – Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria etc.

The summit was a debut for Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, who said that any meeting at which the countries of the region meet and talk is successful and that she will work for good neighbourly relations. The meeting was also a first for Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.