European Forum

Enlargement policy is in the strategic interest of the European Union

On Saturday 26 of November the European Forum in cooperation with the Foundation for European progressive Studies (FEPS) organised a workshop in the framework of the PES Progressive Convention in Brussels. The workshop ‘EU enlargement: more and more a political process’ welcomed high level speakers and over 40 participants.

After welcoming words by Jan Marinus Wiersma (vice-president of the European Forum) Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle delivered his opening speech. He emphasised that the EU enlargement policy is in the strategic interest of the EU: it enhances security in Europe, it fosters democracy, stability and prosperity in our immediate neighbourhood, it helps us achieve our own policy objectives in areas that are key to economic recovery, it broadens and deepens the internal market and it is the best response to the challenge of increasing competition in our neighbourhood. Furthermore, the Commissioner stated that the enlargement process is an economic and social transformational process: it offers justice and a sense of solidarity. Enlargement is most certainly also a political process as its objectives are political stability in Europe and a stronger EU. Political will is a crucial aspect but there are no short cuts: all required criteria should be fulfilled.

Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Božidar Đelić, shortly set out current political developments in Kosovo. He argued that it is very difficult to have a positive mood on Serbia’s EU enlargement process as Serbia is getting blamed for the current situation while it is Pristina that unilaterally decided to send police to the two administrative border crossings. Without Serbia doing anything about it, a crisis has been made in which Pristina is making maximal advantage of the current situation, Đelić said. He added that Serbia is aware that Albanians in Kosovo do not want Belgrade to decided about them. Serbia can accept that, but it can not accept that a part of the territory of Serbia unilaterally declared its independence.

Speaker of the parliament of Montenegro, Ranko Krivokapić, said that the rule of law is the main indicator of the maturity of every society. Societies in Western Balkans are still fragile — war crimes transformed to organised crime — and we need the EU as a lighthouse on the horizon that will lead us. Western Balkan countries are still in love with the EU, there is still strong support among citizens for EU integration. The danger of being in love, however, is disappointment in the EU and its commitments to the region and a broken heart. For example, the support in Serbia for EU integration is strongly declining the last six months.

Zlatko Lagumdžija, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP) said that the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, which made and end to the war in BiH, was made by and for the people that ruled at that time: Milošević Tuđman and Izetbegović. Over the years it has proved to be an agreement that is blocking further development and European integration. In 2007 there was hope that in 2014 — 100 years after the outbreak of World War I which was triggered by the assignation of the Hapsburg Archduke Frans Ferdinand — Sarajevo will be an EU capital. Now that we know that this will not happen we should focus on becoming a NATO member by 2014 as this would be a crucial step for stability in the region, Lagumdžija argued. According to him many international representatives argued some years ago that SDP is a great multi-ethnic party. However, it was only the third party in the country. Now that SDP has become the largest party in BiH (after 2010 elections), same internationals argue that SDP has to accept the reality that BiH is a ethnically divided country. SDP does not accept this and certainly does not accept that this is the future of BiH, Lagumdžija stated.

EU should aging become a relevant actor in Turkey
Dimitris Tsarouhas from the Bilkent University in Ankara shortly discussed Turkey-EU relations. In a short period of time, between 1995 and 2005 Turkey has made enormous reforms and developed into an economic power. Due to the reforms and economic development the EU has become a less significant player in Turkey and Turkish politics, which led to further democratic reforms becoming under pressure. The EU has to adopt a more positive approach towards Turkey and to become a relevant actor again. According to Tsarouhas more political leadership is needed in order to achieve this. European leaders should not only reflect the public opinion polls, they should show leadership as well.

Member of the European Parliament for the S&D Group, Mojca Kleva, argued that progressive forces support, and should support, further enlargement towards Western Balkans. At the same time the reality in politics is that the support among EU citizens for enlargement has decreased. As social democrats we should clearly communicate to our citizens why further enlargement is beneficial both for Western Balkan countries and the EU.

While reflecting on the contribution of the speakers, Commissioner Füle stated that enlargement policy is a political and technical process aimed at steering the transformation process in aspirant countries. In addition, Füle denied that there is enlargement fatigue: “Has the process been slowed down? Are countries being rejected?” Regarding Turkey, the country has made significant reforms and the human rights situation has improved dramatically. It is worrying, however, that the paste of transformation has slowed down recently and reform might prove not to be sustainable.

After questions and discussion with other participants vice-president of the S&D Group, Hannes Swoboda, provided concluding remarks. He argued that we have to stop accusing each other who should do more: both the EU and Western Balkans have to do more. Aspirant countries have to improve regional cooperation and fulfil the required criteria and EU member states have to work on the public opinion on the EU and make clear to their citizens why enlargement is important. S&D Group strongly supports Serbia and Montenegro in becoming a candidate countries. It would be a disaster for the enlargement policy if there is no good news after Croatia.