Post by Bozur on Apr 11, 2005 14:45:28 GMT -5
Serbia likely to get EU green light
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia is expected to get a vote of confidence from the European Union next week when the bloc publishes a report on the Balkan country’s fitness for eventual membership, according to a Reuters survey.
Of 25 political analysts, economists, academics and workers at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) canvassed, almost 65 percent said Brussels was likely to approve a positive “feasibility study,” the first step to formal ties that could lead to Serbia joining the EU around 2014. The main condition for a green light has been improved cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal.
Serbia had been strongly criticized in the last two years for failing to deliver any of two dozen indictees on its territory.
But it has persuaded 11 suspects to surrender in the past 10 weeks, although former army chief of staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic, a high-profile indictee for war crimes in Kosovo, is still refusing to report to the tribunal.
More than half those expecting a positive report said they believed the European Commission might delay formal approval until Belgrade delivers Pavkovic.
“This study is one of the most important means the EU has to put political pressure on the government,” said Eric Gordy, an associate professor at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Around 30 percent of respondents said the report would be negative, most citing lack of cooperation with The Hague or specifically the Pavkovic case as the main reason. “Just like with Croatia, the EU will not be positive for Serbia,” said Erik Nijsten of Dutch NGO Stichting Kosjenka.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=55000
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia is expected to get a vote of confidence from the European Union next week when the bloc publishes a report on the Balkan country’s fitness for eventual membership, according to a Reuters survey.
Of 25 political analysts, economists, academics and workers at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) canvassed, almost 65 percent said Brussels was likely to approve a positive “feasibility study,” the first step to formal ties that could lead to Serbia joining the EU around 2014. The main condition for a green light has been improved cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal.
Serbia had been strongly criticized in the last two years for failing to deliver any of two dozen indictees on its territory.
But it has persuaded 11 suspects to surrender in the past 10 weeks, although former army chief of staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic, a high-profile indictee for war crimes in Kosovo, is still refusing to report to the tribunal.
More than half those expecting a positive report said they believed the European Commission might delay formal approval until Belgrade delivers Pavkovic.
“This study is one of the most important means the EU has to put political pressure on the government,” said Eric Gordy, an associate professor at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Around 30 percent of respondents said the report would be negative, most citing lack of cooperation with The Hague or specifically the Pavkovic case as the main reason. “Just like with Croatia, the EU will not be positive for Serbia,” said Erik Nijsten of Dutch NGO Stichting Kosjenka.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=55000