Categories: Daniel Serwer

Getting ready is the best revenge

Artiana Matoshi of Radio Television Kosovo asked questions. I replied:

Q: The western Balkan states can’t be included in the European Union and this was proved with not opening the negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia. How you assess the refusal of these two countries by EU?

A: This is not a refusal, it is an unexpected and unwelcome postponement caused mainly by French and Dutch internal politics.

Q: Is this injustice towards western Balkans?

A: EU members are entitled to their own decisions on enlargement, but of course they affect the situation in the Balkans. Certainly the decision was unfair after Tirana and Skopje made herculean efforts to meet all the criteria. But those efforts are not wasted: the reforms they have adopted are already benefiting North Macedonia and Albania. 

Q: How much will Kosovo be damaged by this [denial of] access of EU towards Balkans?

A: Kosovo is still waiting for the visa waiver, which has also been unfairly denied, but accession talks are still far off. The important thing to remember is that the reforms are vital, even if European promises are not fulfilled. Delay should not be seen as definitive rejection.

Q: Which is the best way for the Balkans to be included faster in EU and what happens if this cannot happen?

A: The only route I know is to qualify as quickly as possible and then wait for the political stars to align. Paris and The Hague have been very short-sighted, but in any case Albania and North Macedonia still have a lot of work to do to qualify for EU membership. Best to get on with that work and demonstrate unequivocally that they are qualified for accession, thus shortening the negotiation process.

Failure of the EU to enlarge will cause serious problems in the Balkans and benefit Russia. But that can only happen if people in the Balkans lose focus and hope. There is no better place for Tirana or Skopje than in Europe.

Daniel Serwer

Share
Published by
Daniel Serwer

Recent Posts

People are not pleased but it will get worse

He wants an America swollen with racial prejudice and isolated from the world. Half the…

2 days ago

Okay, but still a long way to go

Is this a revival of the 1920s and 1930s America that tried to limit immigration,…

3 days ago

Hope is where the wild things are

Hope lies wherever the restraining and suffocating writ of the Trump Administration does not extend.…

6 days ago

America made a giant mistake

It will take more time for Americans to fathom the mistake they have made. But…

1 week ago

Serbia is going backwards

I received this plea today. The issues are not new but now the situation is…

2 weeks ago

Might doesn’t make right, but it’s winning

Trump can't get anything out of Putin because the American President has already given too…

3 weeks ago