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Neither the EU nor the Balkans are ready for historic turn in 2014 (Koha)

By   /  06/01/2014  /  No Comments

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“Ten years ago, the highest European political circles launched the idea that 2014, on the 100th anniversary of the start of the World War I which began in the Balkans and burned Europe and beyond, should serve as a historic turn for the European Union and the Balkans. It was predicted at the time that all Balkan states would either become EU member states or would be very close to membership. The reality however is different, Balkan states are still very far from the EU, they are not even close to becoming member states, and in 2014 the European Union will deal more with itself than with the Balkans region,” Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj notes in his opinion piece. “2014 will mark several results in the enlargement process. Serbia will start membership negotiations in ten days. Negotiations will continue with Montenegro. Albania, if it seriously considers the offer and remark from the December summit and provide concrete evidence in the war against high-level political corruption, could get the candidate status in June. Stabilization/Association negotiations with Kosovo could conclude by the end of the year or by late spring if the optimistic expectations of the European Commission and the Kosovo Government are fulfilled. But all these are only some important steps in a lengthy process and cannot be considered a ‘historic turn in relations between the Balkans and the EU’, which European leaders predicted ten years ago. Balkan leaders will deal with their priority challenges, how to remain in power and how to avoid responsibility. Senior EU officials will deal with European elections and the allocation of posts in the new composition of the European Commission. Many of them who now hold key positions in the EU, and are engaged in the Balkans, could no longer be in those posts by the end of the year. But even though they cannot count on a great breakthrough in their path toward the EU, Balkan states must not know lose the opportunity to make at least several steps in the new year.”

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  • Published: 10 years ago on 06/01/2014
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  • Last Modified: January 6, 2014 @ 10:35 am
  • Filed Under: Opinions

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