http://www.diigo.com/user/Wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:18:41 -0000 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:18:41 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/bosnia-vote-marks-nationalist-surge/article-176058 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday (5 October) confirmed deep ethnic divisions within the Balkan country, which is seen as a natural candidate&nbsp;for&nbsp;EU accession.</div></p><p><div class="content">Serb, Muslim and Croat nationalists obtained high scores in the race for mayorships in the country's 149 municipalities following a campaign marked by nationalist rhetoric and lack of interest&nbsp;in the real problems&nbsp;faced by&nbsp;citizens.&nbsp;</div></p><p><div class="content"><ul><h2>Links</h2> <div id="Links"> <a name="LinkSection1" class="LinkSection_Label">European Union</a> <ul> <li>European Commission: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/potential-candidate-countries/bosnia_and_herzegovina/eu_bosnia_and_herzegovina_relations_en.htm" title="Bosnia and Herzegovina – Relations with the EU" target="_blank">Bosnia and Herzegovina – Relations with the EU<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>AFP: <a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gbcFe1jjoXKIuyY007t7atd2flaw" title="Nationalists lead in Bosnia’s local elections" target="_blank">Nationalists lead in Bosnia’s local elections<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Reuters: <a href="http://www.theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=538966&amp;type=World" title="Bosnians vote along ethnic lines in local polls" target="_blank">Bosnians vote along ethnic lines in local polls<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Reuters: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4942JU20081005" title="City voters boycott Bosnia’s local polls" target="_blank">City voters boycott Bosnia’s local polls<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Huriyet, Turkey: <a href="http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/world/10044542.asp?scr=1" title="Bosnians vote expected to seal hardliners" target="_blank">Bosnians vote expected to seal hardliners<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Balkanisnsight, Serbia: <a href="http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/13719/" title="Polls close in Bosnia’s local elections" target="_blank">Polls close in Bosnia’s local elections<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Voice of America: <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-02-voa46.cfm" title="EU defence ministers agree to phase out peacekeeping mission in Bosnia" target="_blank">EU defence ministers agree to phase out peacekeeping mission in Bosnia<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /> </a> </li> <li>Le Monde Diplomatique: <a href="http://www.balkanpeace.org/index.php?index=article&amp;articleid=15214" title="Analysis: The black hole of Bosnia" target="_blank">Analysis: The black hole of Bosnia<img src="/css/icons/extlink.gif" height="14" alt="external" width="14" /></a></li></ul></div></ul></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/bosnia' rel='tag'>bosnia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/elections' rel='tag'>elections</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/political_parties' rel='tag'>political_parties</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:18:41 -0000 http://euractiv.com/en/enlargement/bosnia-vote-marks-nationalist-surge/article-176058 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday (5 October) confirmed deep ethnic divisions within the Balkan country, which is seen as a natural candidate for EU accession.</div></p><p><div class="content"><ul><h3>More on this topic:</h3> <div class="Related"> <img class="NewsIcon" src="/css/icons/Interview.gif" alt="List" />Interview:   <a href="/en/enlargement/miroslav-lajcak-karadzic-arrest-opens-new-horizons-western-balkans/article-174482">Miroslav Lajčák: Karadzic's arrest opens new horizons in Western Balkans</a> </div> <div class="Related"> <img class="NewsIcon" src="/css/icons/News.gif" alt="List" />News:   <a href="/en/enlargement/vote-police-reform-brings-bosnia-closer-eu/article-171719">Vote for police reform brings Bosnia closer to EU</a> </div> <div class="Related"> <img class="NewsIcon" src="/css/icons/Analysis.gif" alt="List" />Analysis:   <a href="/en/enlargement/making-bosnia-herzegovina-transformation-irreversible/article-174680">Making Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transformation irreversible</a> </div> <h3>Other related news:</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="/en/enlargement/enlargement-fall-victim-lisbon-treaty-commission/article-175539">Enlargement will not fall victim to Lisbon Treaty, says Commission</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/enlargement/eu-hurry-launch-georgia-mission-deadline/article-175340">EU in hurry to launch Georgia mission before deadline</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/enlargement/nato-cools-ties-russia-freezing/article-174787">NATO cools ties with Russia without freezing them</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/enlargement/erhard-busek-declarations-needed-caucasus/article-174777">Erhard Busek: 'More than declarations' needed in Caucasus</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/enlargement/serbia-warned-play-eu-camp/article-174778">Serbia warned not to play against EU camp</a></li></ul></ul></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/bosnia' rel='tag'>bosnia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/elections' rel='tag'>elections</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/political_parties' rel='tag'>political_parties</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:51:20 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/macedonia-name-negotiations-home-straight/article-175972 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn today (2 October) signalled&nbsp;that the 17-year-old 'name dispute' between Skopje and Athens over the name 'Macedonia' may be nearing a solution</div></p><p><div class="content">"Ambassador Niemetz has requested next Tuesday to meet the negotiators from both countries, Ambassador [Admantios] Vassilakis of Greece and Ambassador [Nikola] Dimitrov and Martin Protoger [chief of staff to Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski]. The aim of the meeting is for both countries to&nbsp;make their remarks or request amendments following mediator Niemetz's last proposal. On this basis, I expect that Ambassador Niemetz will be able […] to table a final version," Crvenkovski said.&nbsp;</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/macedonia' rel='tag'>macedonia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/greece' rel='tag'>greece</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:01:29 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26791/?rk=1 <p>Kosovo's man in Brussels sets out priorities</p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content"><p>- The main tasks of Kosovo's new embassy in Brussels will be to lobby the EU for wider recognition of the country's independence and to raise awareness of Serbia's attempts to sabotage the young state, Kosovo envoy Ilir Dugolli told EUobserver. </p> <p>"Negotiating the question for more recognition of Kosovo is the absolute priority. In the case of the EU, all the other steps go through this step. You cannot really make much progress in negotiating with the EU unless this hurdle is overcome," Mr Dugolli said. "That for some time will continue to exhaust a considerable part of our energies."</p></div></p><p><div class="content"><p>The Balkan country proclaimed independence from Serbia in February and has been recognised by 21 out of 27 EU members, with Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Slovakia holding out for now.</p> <p>The partial recognition means that Kosovo cannot establish formal legal relations with the EU or launch a feasibility study for a future Stabilisation and Association Agreement.</p></div></p><p><div class="content">Mr Dugolli also plans to keep the EU institutions informed about Serbian attempts to sow division in Kosovo. Belgrade is currently opening new "Co-ordination Centres" in ethnic Serb enclaves that could act as rallying points for anti-government opposition.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/kosovo' rel='tag'>kosovo</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:24:13 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-ratifies-key-eu-pre-membership-accord/article-175208 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Serbia has overcome another hurdle on its path towards EU membership&nbsp;with today's&nbsp;(9 September) ratification&nbsp;by its&nbsp;parliament of&nbsp;a key pre-accession agreement offering&nbsp;the country&nbsp;closer trade relations and easier travel within the Union.</div></p><p><div class="content">140 deputies&nbsp;from the 250-seat parliament voted in favour of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), with 26 rejecting it. This means that at least 13 members of the opposition - likely members of the Liberal block, who support EU membership and for this goal would even sacrifice Kosovo - joined the government on this issue.The biggest opposition group, the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), collectively abstained.&nbsp;</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/saa' rel='tag'>saa</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:02:05 -0000 http://www.nomos-shop.de/productview.aspx?product=10226 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content"><p>Durch den Zerfall Jugoslawiens 1991 und die militärischen Auseinandersetzungen in Folge der Unabhängigkeitserklärung einzelner Staaten rückte der Balkan einmal mehr in den Fokus der Weltöffentlichkeit. Dabei spielten sowohl Kroatien als auch Bosnien-Herzegowina eine elementare Rolle. </p> <p>Seit der Unterzeichnung des Friedensvertrages von Dayton haben sich beide Staaten jedoch sehr unterschiedlich entwickelt. Somit stehen beide auch auf einer anderen Stufe hinsichtlich ihrer Bestrebungen, der EU beizutreten: Für Kroatien scheint ein Beitritt bald Realität zu werden, Bosnien-Herzegowina hingegen ist noch weit entfernt. </p> <p>Die Studie geht der Frage nach, wieso sich beide Staaten in so unterschiedlichen Stadien hinsichtlich ihrer Beitrittsperspektiven befinden. Neben einer Analyse und dem Vergleich der Transformationsprozesse werden die von der EU aufgestellten Beitrittskriterien analysiert und hinterfragt. Die Publikation verdeutlicht, dass ein nachhaltiger Frieden auf dem Balkan nur durch eine realistische EU-Perspektive und eine intensive Kooperation der Mitgliedstaaten mit den südosteuropäischen Staaten zu gewährleisten ist. </p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/literature' rel='tag'>literature</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/eu-research' rel='tag'>eu-research</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/croatia' rel='tag'>croatia</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:36:19 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26715/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">The EU is expected to demonstrate "leadership" in assuring Bosnia and Herzegovina's transition to a viable state that could one day join the 27-member bloc, the international community's high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina said in Brussels on Tuesday (9 September).</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>Mr Lajcak said the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was currently stable, but stressed that the country is still facing numerous political challenges, the solving of which requires the EU to play a role.</p> <p>One strategic issue, he underlined, is constitutional reform in Bosnia. There is currently no united approach to such reform, not only domestically, but also within the international community.</p> <p>"The international community and the EU in particular needs to define what it expects from any agreement" on constitutional reform in Bosnia, he said.</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/bosnia' rel='tag'>bosnia</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:34:47 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/macedonia-digs-heels-name-dispute/article-175153 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">In a visit to Brussels on 5 September, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Bocevski showed no sign of flexibility regarding his country's name dispute with Greece, accusing Athens of obstructing talks and calling on Brussels to be more generous&nbsp;regarding Skopje's EU and NATO membership aspirations.</div></p><p><div class="content">The Macedonian deputy prime minister also dismissed advice that his country should concentrate more on its EU prospects&nbsp;than its NATO ambitions. As a former Communist country, Macedonia does not see any strategic difference between EU and NATO, he explained.&nbsp;</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/macedonia' rel='tag'>macedonia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/westernbalkans' rel='tag'>westernbalkans</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:57:29 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-warned-play-eu-camp/article-174778 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">As the EU prepares to&nbsp;assume&nbsp;responsibility for policing Kosovo from the UN, French and British diplomats have warned Serbia that its strong opposition to the EU mission and its decision to seize the UN International Court of Justice over the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence could complicate the country's EU membership bid.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/eu-policies' rel='tag'>eu-policies</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/cfsp' rel='tag'>cfsp</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:38:51 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26576/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Serbian president Boris Tadic has vowed Belgrade will "fulfil its international obligations" by hunting down two remaining war crimes fugitives - general Ratko Mladic and former Croatian Serb leader Goran Hadzic.</div></p><p><div class="content">Despite the arrest of Mr Karadzic, the EU has stopped short of rewarding Belgrade by giving the green light to implementation of the trade-related part of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) - a pre-accession deal that the EU signed with Belgrade in April this year.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/ICTY' rel='tag'>ICTY</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:24:36 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26568/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Twenty EU states will begin welcoming Kosovo passport holders after Pristina started issuing the new documents on Wednesday (30 July). Slovakia will not allow entry however, while the six other EU countries that do not recognise Kosovo have not made their position clear.</div></p><p><div class="content">The documents will replace the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) passports, which have been in circulation since the UN intervened after a Serb crackdown on Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanian population in 1999. The UNMIK documents will no longer be produced but will remain valid until their expiry dates.</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>But the situation for the new Kosovo passport holders remains less clear, as Slovakia, Malta, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, Greece and Romania have not recognised the new state. </p> <p>"We do not recognise an independent Kosovo, so we will also not recognise their documents. We will continue to recognise substitute passports issued by the UN administration and Serbian passports," a Slovak interior ministry spokesman told Slovak newspaper Sme earlier this month.</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/eu-policies' rel='tag'>eu-policies</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/cfsp' rel='tag'>cfsp</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/eu-policy_memberstates' rel='tag'>eu-policy_memberstates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/kosovo' rel='tag'>kosovo</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:19:17 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26550/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">The Macedonian parliament on Saturday (26 July) approved the country's new government led by prime minister Nikola Gruevski and pledged to do its utmost to speed up Macedonia's EU integration.</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>The new coalition government consists of VMRO-DPMNE and DUI, while the Social Democratic Union has decided to boycott all parliamentary activity following the arrest of one of its vice-presidents, Zoran Zaev, some 10 days ago, saying the accusations against him of alleged links to organised crime were "politically motivated."</p> <p>"We will work day and night to become a member of the European Union and NATO," Mr Gruevski told parliamentarians when presenting his new government, AFP reports.</p> <p>Fighting corruption and organised crime, as well as improving inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia will also figure among the priorities of the new team, he said.</p> <p>A persisting deadlock in the country's name row with Greece is threatening to delay Skopje's EU ambitions despite any future progress on its internal deficiencies, however.</p></div></p><p><div class="content"><p>Macedonia was granted the status of EU candidate in December 2005, but has yet to open accession talks with the bloc.</p> <p>Skopje is hoping that this can happen in the course of this year, but the stalemate in its relations with Greece, added to the fact that current EU presidency country France has clearly stated its support to Athens, may complicate its plans.</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/macedonia' rel='tag'>macedonia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicymemberstates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicymemberstates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/greece' rel='tag'>greece</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:48:38 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26525/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">EU foreign ministers on Tuesday hailed the arrest of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic as an important step in Serbia's progress towards EU integration - but stopped short of offering Belgrade any concrete concessions at this stage.</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>For his part, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn called the moment: "historic for international justice."</p> <p>It is also "very important for Serbia's European aspirations" and "proves that the new government of Serbia has the determination to turn the page, leave the nationalist past behind and move towards a European future," he added.</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/ICTY' rel='tag'>ICTY</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:50:18 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/macedonia-eu-bid-danger-greece-row-escalates/article-174325 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Nikola Gruevski, Macedonia's prime minister, has infuriated Greece by asking the EU member&nbsp;to recognise its Macedonian minority. But this confrontational strategy could spell trouble for the small Balkan state as France, which currently holds the EU Presidency, has made plain that it&nbsp;stands beside Greece in the dispute</div></p><p><div class="content">Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski sent a letter to his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis on 14 July, asking for&nbsp;recognition of the&nbsp;Macedonian minority in Greece and the return of property to Macedonian refugees who were forced to flee during the 1946-1949 Greek civil wa</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>In addition, Gruevski urged Athens to recognise the existence of the Macedonian minority on its territory and grant them the right to education in their own language as well as to foster their culture and traditions.&nbsp;</p> <p>Greece immediately reacted. In response to Gruevski's letter, Greek Foreigh Minister Dora Bakoyiannis said on Tuesday&nbsp;that the extreme nationalism from Skopje "sows the wind, but reaps whirlwind".&nbsp;</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicymemberstates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicymemberstates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/greece' rel='tag'>greece</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/macedonia' rel='tag'>macedonia</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:56:00 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-refer-kosovo-un-court/article-174342 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Although the Court's&nbsp;opinion would be advisory, without binding effect,&nbsp;it nevertheless remains that the authority and prestige attached to the Court's advisory opinions, especially when the organ or agency concerned endorses that opinion, means that its decisions are often as such sanctioned by international law.&nbsp;</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/kosovo' rel='tag'>kosovo</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/UN' rel='tag'>UN</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:48:53 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26495/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content"><p>Croatia will be ready to join the EU in 2009 and its membership is not going to be delayed by the EU's current institutional "crisis", Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said.</p> <p>"I understand European countries, including France, which intend to solve the EU's institutional problems before proceeding to any new accessions … [But] we will speed up the rhythm of our reforms and be ready in 2009 to join the EU as its 28th member," Mr Mesic told French daily Le Figaro in an interview published on Tuesday (15 July).</p></div></p><p><div class="content">Asked if he could imagine his country joining the EU without the bloc having dealt with the Irish No, Mr Mesic said: "No, the EU will find a way out of this crisis. If 26 EU states ratify Lisbon [traty]… they will find a solution for the 27th … The European institutional crisis will be solved."</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/croatia' rel='tag'>croatia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/lisbon-treaty' rel='tag'>lisbon-treaty</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:06:29 -0000 http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/new-serbian-government-wants-eu-kosovo/article-174013 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic outlined the new Serbian government's somewhat conflicting priorities of quick&nbsp;accession to the EU and keeping Kosovo part of Serbia in his first speech in Parliament on 7 July. But Kosovo is already recognised as an independent country by a majority of EU states.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/saa' rel='tag'>saa</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/kosovo' rel='tag'>kosovo</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:41:33 -0000 http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=117829&NrIssue=705&NrSection=10 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">82% of citizens of Macedonia believe that the country would benefit from EU membership, which is much greater percentage than in the other two candidate countries - Croatia and Turkey.<br /> <br />The majority of this group deem that a key benefit would be economic growth, followed by the maintenance of peace and stability in the country, a higher standard of living and new opportunities for employment, showed the results of the 69th National Eurobarometer Report.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/publicopinion' rel='tag'>publicopinion</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/macedonia' rel='tag'>macedonia</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:22:23 -0000 http://euobserver.com/9/26460/?rk=1 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content"><p>Serbia's parliament on Monday (7 July) approved the country's new government which will be led by prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic and favouring prompt EU membership– but which remains opposed to Kosovo's independence.</p> <p>The government coalition will be made up of a pro-EU alliance – led by current president Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS) – who won the elections in May, but did not get a big enough majority to form a government on its own, and the reformed Socialists (SPS) of late president Slobodan Milosevic</p></div></p><p><div class="content">New prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic (DS) – a 57-year-old economist and former finance minister – promised that one of his first actions would be the introduction of a pre-accession EU deal for ratification by the Serbian parliament.</div></p><p><div class="content"><p>However, the new premier also stressed his country was nowhere close to accepting Kosovo's independence.</p> <p>"I pledge allegiance to the Republic of Serbia and promise with my honour that I will respect the Constitution... and to be committed to the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia," the premier and his ministers vowed after being sworn in.</p></div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/serbia' rel='tag'>serbia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/elections' rel='tag'>elections</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:21:45 -0000 http://balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11478 <p></p><p><strong>Highlights and Sticky Notes:</strong><p><div class="content">Bosnia’s Interim Agreement with the EU has come into force, bringing the country into a new phase of trade relations with Europe and its common market. <p><em><!-- Author Start --><!-- Author End --></em></p> Until Bosnia’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union – signed on June 16 – is ratified by all EU countries, relations between Bosnia and the bloc will be regulated in accordance with the Interim Agreement.<br /></div></p><p><div class="content">However some economic experts warn that the country’s cumbersome, expensive and ineffective administration is ill prepared to meet all the challenges and risks brought by opening of Bosnia’s market to cheaper and better goods from the EU.</div></p><p><p><strong>Tags:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargement' rel='tag'>enlargement</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_candidates' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_candidates</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/enlargementpolicy_eu' rel='tag'>enlargementpolicy_eu</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/bosnia' rel='tag'>bosnia</a> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann/saa' rel='tag'>saa</a> </p><p><strong>Posted by:</strong> <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/wolfgangschumann'>wolfgangschumann</a></p> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:44:33 -0000 60