Serbia: EU Candidacy

Serbia is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership. The Serbian government has reached an agreement with the government of Kosovo that would allow government representatives to attend regional gatherings, even though Serbia still refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

 Serbia still needs to undergo the complex process of administrative, judicial, and economic reforms common to post-Communist countries wishing to become EU members. It is estimated that the earliest Serbia could become an EU member is 2020. The question is: Does Serbia need the EU or vice versa?

Serbia has seen ascension to the European Union as a grand prize for many years. EU membership would provide the Serbian government with opportunity to express their democratic credentials. Serbia could also use the financial support the EU provides to member countries.

Adding Serbia to the EU ranks would offer a boost to an organization that has been besieged by debt from member states in recent months that threatens to unravel the entire notion of a European Union.

Bringing another country with financial difficulties into the European fold does not sound like a prudent idea, considering Europe’s financial plight.

Serbia’s EU Bid: It’s About Kosovo

While praising many aspects of Serbia’s development in a report released last Tuesday, the European Commission (EC) identified Kosovo as a key issue preventing the launch of membership talks.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia considers the region a breakaway state. Belgrade runs “parallel structures” within Kosovo mostly inhabited by Serbs with governments and courts. The EU itself supports independence and provides support to Pristina government. Serbian president Boris Tadic facing election next year, can’t be seen as weak on EU membership or Kosovo, given the large Serbian population that still live there. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/1012/European-Union-Kosovo-stands-between-Serbia-and-EU-membership

Genocides die hard. Given that the EU and the US have already blocked the idea of a partition. Would the respective governments agree to something of an amnesty program? A set period of time where Serbs within Kosovo will have to decide whether they belong to Kosovo or Serbia. After this period of time, Serbia would renounce all claims to territory within Kosovo are recognize the rights of an independent Kosovo.

 An independent Kosovo is really the bottom line, either Serbia accepts it, or else it never gets the acceptance in the EU that is clearly covets. While resolving Kosovo won’t lock up an EU invite, failure to do so may derail any hope of an invite.