Interview: Krisztina Nagy, spokesperson for Enlargement, Commissioner Olli Rehn

EU - a complicated club

'We are already in the phase of consolidation. It is very important that in according to the rules of EU, any European country that respects values of EU which is democracy, peace, respect for the human rights etc, may apply for joining the EU. However, this does not mean that EU has to accept all the applications.'



What is the next step in EU enlargement process?

I think that we call the Eastern Enlargement of the EU, that included 10 countries from the Central and Eastern Europe, as well as as Cyprus and Malta, was indeed the historic enlargement of the EU, and it was basically reuniting Eastern and Western Europe after the Cold war, and in that sense it was historic event, but is was also very important for the EU, in the terms of stability and peace towards the East and in the same time, this enlargement also brought many economic benefits for both sides. It is also clear that this reunification of Europe is not complete, as long as the Western Balkan are not the part of the EU, and this is the reason why EU made a promise in 2003. to all countries of Western Balkan to join EU, provided that they fulfil the conditions, and I think this point this is very, very important, the conditions must be fulfilled. So in that sense, EU and the countries of the Western Balkan together, are working on that project now, which is accession to the EU, it is a long way to go, there are lot of steps on the road that has to be taken, but it is very promising prospect, for both, the Western Balkan and the EU. Just to add to this, there is also an ongoing process with Turkey, it back a bit further, because it was already in 1963. that EU and Turkey concluded an association agreement, and ever since the possibility for Turkey for membership in EU is a possibility, but provided only the Turkey fulfills the conditions.

How can we move forward, in the sense of EU enlargement, bearing in mind the failure of Agreement on Constitution and Lisbon Treaty?

I would certainly not share this analyses at all. The situation that we have today is that ratification process of Lisbon Treaty is ongoing, we expect the positive development in that regard this year, and indeed this will happen and that is actually not a problem, because the next country that is likely to join the EU is Croatia, and in any case, the fastest possible scenario we can imagine today for Croatian accession to EU is slower than the slowest scenario that we expect today for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Would you subscribe to Angela Merkel's point of view, that after the Croatian accession process, EU indeed should pause a process due to a need of phase of consolidation?

We are already in the phase of consolidation. It is very important that in according to the rules of EU, any European country that respects values of EU which is democracy, peace, respect for the human rights etc, may apply for joining the EU. However, this does not mean that EU has to accept all the applications. It has been already clearly stated at the end of 2006. that EU enlargement process consent the Western Balkan and Turkey, and this agenda we have for the moment, this agenda is not extending to other countries, although there are other countries that are interested in joining EU. It is a one exception that I can mention, and it is the case of Iceland. In Iceland there is the debate at the moment, about the possible application for the EU membership, and if Iceland apply for the membership, it will be very welcome to start the process of joining the EU.

Commissioner Olli Rehn is often telling that EU will benefit the enlargement. How exactly?

But the EU has already benefited all the many enlargements that EU had came throughout, and we must not forget the first EU enlargement happened in 1973. when Denmark, UK and Ireland joined the EU. Since then we had several enlargements of EU, but this processes have always been accompanied by the deepening of the policy of the EU, and this is the most important aspect. The key is in a double dynamic, at the one hand the EU can do more and more together, to have the deeper cooperation with all this member states, but at the same time, the zone of the peace and stability is crucial for the well being of the people who live in EU, is extending on the continent.

What are the main problems for Serbia today that ought to be solved before getting the candidate status?

Serbia has a very clear perspective for joining the EU and Serbia is a very dynamic country with the lot of potential, and I think that is not a doubt about the fact that Serbia will join the EU, one day. But of course, accession process is very long process for any country. It was also the case, for example for my home country, I am Hungarian, my home country also took many years of hard working and reforms in order to join the EU. It is important to remember that joining the EU is basically about accepting all the rules of the club. The EU is a very complicated club. It has been existing for the long time, created a lot of legislation, common norms and standards, if we would print this out, we would come to 80.000 pages, which is huge, so it means that Serbia, like any other country that wants to join the EU has to adopt all this legislation, in the national legislation and also being able to implement them. So in the long run, there is a huge homework to do, for any country, including Serbia. Now, in the shorter run, what is very important for Serbia to get to the next step, which is to gain candidate country status, but for this step there are also conditions that has to be fulfilled by Serbia, and therefore we are looking forward to this happening in the near future.

Is getting Ratko Mladic to ICTY a formal issue?

It is a very substantially important issue because reconciliation in the Western Balkan is the key in that process, and that's why the full cooperation with ICTY is very important, not just for Serbia, but all the countries, including Serbia.


(Published: 20.06.2009.)