Foreign ministers to move on ratification of agreement with Serbia
The Spanish presidency of the European Union will fulfil one of the two promises it made to Serbia six months ago when it launches ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the Balkan country on Monday. But the procedure for granting EU candidate status will remain closed.
According to draft conclusions of the EU foreign ministers meeting early next week, obtained by WAZ.EUobserver, national parliaments will be invited to ratify the SAA with Serbia. Signed in 2008, the agreement is an early step toward potential EU membership.
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The draft conclusions indicate that the Netherlands has lifted its objections to SAA ratification, despite uncertainty over the next government in the Hague. Last December the Council decided that SAA ratification will start in June, if Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY is assessed as positive by the court's Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. In December, Mr Brammertz delivered a positive report, and his next assessment is expected to become public on 18 June.
The prosecutor's latest report was circulated in the UN Security Council last week, as WAZ.EUobserver reported last week. The assessment is sufficiently positive to open the door for SAA ratification, according to diplomatic sources in Brussels and the Dutch foreign ministry.
"Having in mind that Brammertz's report will be made public on 18 June, the Spanish Presidency has invited the prosecutor to attend the upcoming Council of ministers and inform them about Serbian and Croatian cooperation. We believe that Brammertz will deliver a positive opinion on Serbia, so the draft conclusions will be adopted without major problems," an EU diplomat said.
Belgrade had expected even better news from the upcoming Council of foreign ministers, but the draft conclusions make no reference to the country's bid for EU membership. This means the application, submitted by Serbia last December, will remain in the box. Instead, the Council is expected to encourage the Serbian government to implement the reforms needed for European integration.
Reservations from some member states are the reason behind the Council's reluctance to trigger the procedure for granting candidate status to Serbia. The Spanish presidency did not succeed in securing consensus, which is needed for the European Commission to prepare its opinion on Serbia's readiness to become a formal candidate for EU accession.
Moving on with Serbia's application was opposed by Germany and the Netherlands. Surprisingly, their position was upheld by the United Kingdom, which is usually supportive of enlargement.
"London has changed its position. Like Berlin, it wants to see Serbia's reaction to the upcoming advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's declaration of independence," an EU diplomat explained. "As long as Germany and the UK are against, Serbia cannot count on help from its usual supporters - Italy, France and Spain," the diplomat added.