Sweat and Tears Are Yet to Follow

Sweat and Tears Are Yet to Follow

According to diplomatic sources, after Brussels’s decision to allow national parliaments to ratify the SAA, “the best case scenario for the discussion of EU candidacy for Belgradecould be late fall, during Belgium’s presidency, and the worst – only after the ratification of SAA.“

Indeed, with this latest decision of the European Commission, and afterwards that of the Council of Ministers, Serbia has made an important step. However, according to many, the real “sweat and tears“ of the upcoming integration process are yet to follow.

On the topic of what awaits us, Mr. Milan Pajević,coordinator of ISAC Fund and an expert in foreign affairs speaks for Danas.

According to you, when will Serbia’s candidacy be on schedule for discussion in the EU?
– The candidacy will not be discussed untilthe International Court of Justice (ICJ)in the Hague delivers its opinion on Kosovo’s proclamation of independence.That is one issue that the EU member stateswill not be in a hurry to state their opinion about. Some of the EU member states believe that atthis moment having theratification process initiated is sufficient enough.

Will the decision on the candidacy status of Serbia include the question of our European integration and Kosovo?

– It seems that it will, but thatdepends mostly on how that question will be dealt by our state and our diplomacy. More precisely, it depends on the way our country will position itself after the opinion of the ICJ.
According to some information from Brussels, the greatest obstacle for Serbia will be Germany’s stance on candidacy and Kosovo?

–The biggest obstacle for our EU integration process isus, and not other countriesas this is often the view in Serbia. Firstly, it is not the true, and second of all, it is not correct, especially when it comes to Germany. Germany was one of the strongest supporters of Serbia’s development, and it still is. Even before the political changes, and especially in their aftermath, through bilateral relations and international financial institutions and as well as through the EU, Germany was one of the key partners and one of the most engaged and most useful partners of Serbia. Therefore, it is really not appropriate to consider Germany as the “obstacle“ towards the EU, as it has often been portrayed in our media in last couple of months. I think that Germany is the strongest supporter of our European road, despite the fact that it is not proclaiming that out loud, as other states may be doing, which in fact are doing much less work that is useful for Serbia. Instead of pure rhetoric, Germany has been committed to a pragmatic way of support, and it is continuing in doing so.

The questionnaire for which Serbia needs to send answers to Brussels willcertainly be toughto answer when related to questions of Kosovo’s borders? How can, what will bethe certain answer of Serbia to this question, affect the further course of European integrations?
– Our state will certainly reply in agreement with our Constitution and political position that the state authorities hold on that issue. The European Commission, as the first one to receive the answers, should also not have any negative comments on that matter, having in mind that EU states do not have a compliant politics regarding that question. It could be assumed that majority of EU members that recognized Kosovo’s independence will have a disagreement on that matter, as it could be perceived as something that clashes with their position. Whether that will be a difficult question for negotiations or not will mostly depend on Serbia’s attitude not only towards Kosovo, but towards the overall framework of relations in the region. The entire political behavior of Serbia will be observed.

DraganMilivojević

Without irritation
Can Serbia receive the candidacy status without having clearly defined state borders?

– It is too early to talk about that at this point, having in mind all that I have just said.

Member of EU definitely not?
– Correct. It is more than necessary to comply all those difficult, complicated, and delicate questions with the leading EU states, and not to be stepping out in front of them with unexpected surprises that could “unexpectedly irritate“ them, as it was the case several times in the past.