The Commission` s views on the enlargement strategy as a whole and on the candidate countries Turkey and Croatia and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans
Enlargement is one of the EU` s most powerful policy tools: it exemplifies the essence of the EU` s “soft power”, or the power of transformation, which has helped to transform countries to stable democracies and more prosperous societies, with higher levels of economic development and social welfare. It remains in Europe` s fundamental interest to continue to pursue a carefully managed accession process.
The trademark of the Barroso Commission` s strategy on enlargement is consolidation. We have to be cautious about taking on any new commitments, but at the same time we must stand by the commitments we have made, once the countries fulfill the strict conditions for accession. Conditionality indeed is the key to our transformative power. But it is a two-way street: conditionality only works if the countries can believe in the EU` s commitment on their eventual membership.
Moreover, we have to communicate better the objectives and challenges of the accession progress and how we deal with the countries. Broad public support is essential for a sustainable enlargement policy, now more than ever. It is especially up to the member states to make the case for and defend the policies they have agreed unanimously. The Commission certainly does its part and I am well aware of the efforts of the European Parliament and of many of you back home.
The candidate countries: Turkey and Croatia
With Turkey and Croatia, we started screening the chapters for accession negotiations three weeks ago. The progress reports analyze where the countries stand and the Association Partnership set short-term and medium-term goals to address the problems identified. It is a mixed picture, frankly.
In Turkey, bold and significant reforms that enhance the rule of law and human rights have now entered into force, but implementation remains uneven. The report underlines that Turkey must make significant further efforts in freedom of expression, women` s rights, religious freedoms, trade union rights, cultural rights and the fight against torture and ill-treatment. The Accession Partnership for Turkey addresses these issues among the priorities for action in the short-term. On a positive note, the Commission now recognizes Turkey as a functioning market economy, as long as stabilization and reform measures are firmly maintained.
Croatia is generally doing well in transposing and implementing EU legislation but it still needs to make important efforts to reform the judicial system, to fight corruption, to improve the situation of minorities and to facilitate refugees` return, as well as to strengthen the administrative structures for the enforcement of the acquis. Needless to say, Croatia must maintain full cooperation with ICTY so that the remaining fugitive is finally brought to justice; we shall monitor this commitment closely.
Countries of the Western Balkans
The Commission` s opinion of the application of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for EU membership is an objective and fair assessment of her strengths and weaknesses.
Only a few years after being on the brink of a civil war, the country has achieved remarkable political stability and democratic development, particularly thanks to the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. She is currently the only functioning multi-ethnic state in the Balkans, and thus a case in point that such a multi-ethnic model can work. For these reasons, the Commission can recommend the status of a candidate country for the country: however, the country is not ready to start accession negotiations yet.
The candidate status for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be an important political signal for the whole region. At the same time, the Commission is not rushing ahead to recommend accession negotiations before the country is ready. We will access the situation regularly and will recommend opening negotiations only once a sufficient level of compliance with the Copenhagen criteria is reached.
As regards Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the time has come to anchor our relationship more strongly by negotiating a Stabilization and Association Agreement with each of them. With Albania, we should be able to do so in the near future. For the other two countries, I expect that we may do so towards the end of 2006, if they make serious progress on the reforms. A Stabilization and Association Agreement is a stepping stone towards the EU, and it needs to be implemented rigorously before any further steps can be envisaged.
Following the objective report and recommendation of the UN Standards Envoy Kai Eide, the talks on the future status of Kosovo are about to begin. The Commission fully supports the efforts of the UN Status Envoy, President Martti Ahtisaari, to prepare a balanced and sustainable settlement in Kosovo, and we shall work closely with him. Our common goal must be a status with standards: that is, it is of paramount importance that the rights of minorities and protection of cultural and historical sites will be ensured in order to achieve a sustainable settlement that facilitates stability of the whole region. I shall soon present a joint paper on EU` s policy on Kosovo with Javier Solana. We need to facilitate the status process with appropriate financial resources, on which the Commission requests working closely together with the Parliament.
Each and every country of the Western Balkans is taking a step forward towards the EU. Thus, we send a message that the EU remains committed to their mid- or long-term perspective of EU membership, once each and every country meets our strict conditions. These are indeed two sides of the same coin: the perspective of EU accession comes closer step-by-step and in response to real progress in fulfilling the EU` s conditions and criteria. The Commission remains committed to work for the EU perspective of the Western Balkans.
By: N. Peter Kramer
