Today’s Danas interview with Commissioner Hahn
1. How do You see the announcements of possible early elections in Serbia? Would they impact the planned pace of European integration? Could the elections be justified in any case, and if so, in which case?
It is not my job to speculate. It is entirely in the hands of the Serbian politicians. In any event the EU is confident that Serbia will remain fully committed to its European path as well as to both political and economic reforms and the dialogue with Pristina, which was again successful this week.
2. The Government of Serbia is hoping that the Council of Ministers will issue its recommendation for opening the first chapters, during September meeting. Are such expectations justified?
I welcome the Serbian government’s ambitious target date, which I see as a sign of their strong dedication. I am working hard to make sure that the first chapters can be opened very soon, ideally before the end of this year. I am confident that EU Member States will agree with our proposal. Still, quality comes before speed. The timing depends primarily on Serbia and its pace of implementing the necessary reforms, in particular on chapters 23 and 24.
3. Did Serbia meet all the requirements and criteria for the opening of the first chapter or chapters?
Serbia has taken major steps to be able to open first negotiation chapters. It has nearly completed a comprehensive action plan required for the opening of rule of law chapter 24 and is on the eve on doing the same for rule of law chapter 23. Provided our comments on the previous version are taken on board, discussion with Member States on both action plans are expected to start after the summer. Serbia has also finalised implementation arrangements of key agreements with Kosovo as part of the normalisation process, dealt with under chapter 35. This represents a landmark achievement in the normalisation process and I am hopeful this will pave the way for Member States’ agreeing on opening a first chapter, still this year.
4. In that sense, has everything necessary been done in the Brussels process? If not so, what is it that Serbia still needs to do?
On chapter 35, I welcome Serbia’s commitment to engaging in this process that we know is not easy. Prime Ministers Vučić and Mustafa’s dedication was instrumental in finalising implementation arrangements of four key agreements this week on energy, telecoms, establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities as well as the Freedom of Movement/Mitrovica Bridge. The EU will actively support the full implementation of this outcome.
5. The Prime Minister of Serbia will arrive to the Vienna summit with an initiative for regional reconciliation. It was immediately rejected by leaders of Kosovo, Croatia and BiH. What is your view about that?
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations form an essential part of Serbia’s process of moving towards the EU and I welcome Serbian leadership’s constructive and active commitment in this respect. At the same time further efforts are needed to overcome bilateral disputes which continue to burden relations in the region. Reconciliation remains essential to promote stability and the establishment of an environment conducive to overcoming the legacy of the past, thereby minimising the risk of open bilateral issues being politically instrumentalised.
6. Many think Vucic`s gesture is insincere, given his and the government’s overall attitude towards the recent wartime past. What do you think about such views?
Prime Minister Vučić and his government took historical steps to improve regional ties. Let me mention the WB6 conference on economic governance in Belgrade in October last year and the visit of Albanian Prime Minister Rama in November, the first of such nature after 68 years. Prime Minister Vučić also took a historical decision in attending the 20th anniversary commemoration of the genocide at Srebrenica. The attack he was the victim of shows that we all need, together, in Serbia and beyond, to redouble our efforts to overcome hatred and pursue reconciliation across the whole Western Balkans region.
7. What are your predictions regarding the very difficult situation with refugees from Middle Eastern countries, after raising the wall on the Serbian-Hungarian border?
The European Commission closely follows the situation. Our objective is to support Serbia and other countries primarily concerned in the region. We have allocated short-term € 390.000, including for humanitarian assistance as we already did after the floods last year. This comes in addition to some € 8.2 allocated or to be allocated in the medium to long-term to support border surveillance, strengthen asylum system and expand accommodation capacities for asylum seekers in Serbia. At the same time, the current migratory pressure is an issue of European dimension. In this respect, it necessitates a coordinated regional approach. The EU committed € 8 million on migration management programme in the Western Balkan region and we look forward to Serbia continuing to address this migratory crisis in close cooperation with the EU.
8. Estimates can be heard that the EU has no will and no means to solve the refugee problem, and therefore does not respond decisively to the wall at the Hungarian border.
Building new walls or fences is not the answer. The EU supports an active, comprehensive and geographically balanced migration policy. A broader foreign and security policy approach is essential to strengthen cooperation with countries of origin and transit aiming at addressing root causes of and preventing irregular migration, including smuggling and trafficking, protecting persons in need of international protection, respecting the right to seek asylum, ensuring effective return and readmission, and maximising the development impact of well-managed migration and mobility.
9. What is it that Serbia should do to help solve this problem? Will Serbia have to build new reception centers for asylum seekers? Cold weather is near, will we soon have a humanitarian disaster?
I welcome the first steps taken by the Serbian authorities to handle the influx of refugees over the last few weeks in very difficult circumstances. Additional law enforcement agents deployed at the borders, together with the one shop centre opened in Presevo and temporary humanitarian shelter opened in Kanjiza are working quite efficiently. Additional European Union support will be based on a needs assessment which the Serbian government is currently developing.
10. What is Your opinion about the military exercises Serbia takes part in with Russia? In what way could Russia be a threat to the stability of the Balkans?
The EU is very concerned about the recent escalation of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. I have to say that under these circumstances, the planning of a joint Russian- Serbian military exercise in the Russian Federation would send a wrong signal. Together with EU Member States, I expect that Serbia will continue to progressively align to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, according to its commitments.
