The European Commission (EC) yesterday adopted its annual Enlargement Package, which provides a detailed assessment of the situation and progress made by Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey on their way to accession to the EU. The assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidelines on reform priorities.
With the assessment that Serbia has met the criteria for opening cluster 3, which relates to competitiveness and inclusive growth, and that this cluster is technically ready for opening, the EC in this year's report criticized Serbia's insufficient progress in key issues related to freedom of expression and alignment with foreign policy of the European Union (EU), including sanctions against Russia, adding that the overall pace of accession negotiations still depends on reforms and normalization of relations with Kosovo.
In the report, the EC assesses that Serbia has not made progress in the area of freedom of expression compared to last year's recommendations.
"Cases of threats, intimidation, hate speech and violence against journalists, including female journalists, are still present, even at the local level. Continuous statements by senior officials about the daily and investigative work of journalists have a frightening effect on freedom of expression," the report's chapter on freedom of expression states.
During the coming year, Serbia should especially strengthen the protection and safety of journalists so that high-ranking officials refrain from labeling or verbally attacking journalists, and that all threats and cases of physical and verbal violence are monitored and, if necessary, publicly condemned, investigated or process.
In the EC report, it is also assessed that no progress was made in the foreign and security policy during the period covered by the report, because certain actions and statements of Belgrade were in contradiction with the positions of the EU.
Although Serbia has continued cooperation with the EU to prevent Russian sanctions circumvention and continued to provide financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the country has maintained high levels of relations with Moscow, which raises questions about its strategic direction. It has also intensified relations with China, including the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement with that country on July 1, 2024, which represents a strategic challenge.
The Commission, among other things, asks official Belgrade to improve compliance with the common foreign and security policy of the EU and to undertake credible efforts to reduce the space for foreign interference and manipulation of information, including disinformation, and to take measures to strengthen society's resistance to these and other forms of hybrid threats.
The High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, spoke yesterday in Brussels about the necessity of harmonizing candidate countries for membership with the EU's foreign and security policy, pointing out that this is an indicator that the candidates share European values and geopolitical goals. "You simply cannot maintain relations with Russia and pretend as if nothing has changed and expect your country to be part of the EU in such a situation. You have to choose one or the other," Borel said.
Borel pointed out that some countries have fully aligned with EU policy, mentioning North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, as well as that Ukraine and Moldova have significantly improved their alignment with EU foreign and security policy.
You simply cannot maintain relations with Russia and pretend as if nothing has changed and expect your country to be part of the EU in such a situation. You have to choose one or the other, said Jozep Borel
"Sooner or later you have to harmonize your foreign and security policy with the EU policy. Otherwise, the question of membership will be threatened", Borel said and added that the EU should not only be bigger, but also stronger. "We want new states, but we want to be stronger together with them," Borel said.
As for the dialogue with Kosovo, which is crucial for Serbia's progress towards the EU, both countries participated, "but they must show a more serious and constructive commitment in order to advance the normalization process", the Report states. In the coming period, Serbia and Kosovo should make additional significant efforts to avoid actions that undermine stability and rhetoric that is not suitable for dialogue and reconciliation. Kosovo is expected to start the process that will lead to the establishment of the Union of Serbian Municipalities based on the European proposal presented to both sides on October 21, 2023. Belgrade, on the other hand, is expected to start fulfilling its obligations from the Agreement in parallel with the recognition of Kosovo's documents , symbols and institutions.
Commenting on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Borel said yesterday, after the presentation of the report, that many agreements had been reached, but that, "unfortunately, the issue of implementation has not yet been resolved". "Both for Serbia and Kosovo, the dynamics of enlargement and progress in dialogue with the goal of normalizing relations must go hand in hand. You can't do one thing and not the other," said Borel.
The EC Report assesses that Serbia remained dedicated to maintaining good bilateral relations with other countries in the enlargement process, as well as with neighboring EU member states. "Relations with Montenegro are generally stable, however, occasional mutual accusations continue," it said. It is added that relations with Croatia are still characterized by occasional antagonistic public exchanges and diplomatic demarches, while relations with BiH are good and generally stable, although the United Nations resolution on Srebrenica led to political tensions.
When it comes to investigating and prosecuting war crimes cases, Serbia has yet to show true commitment, the European Commission believes. "Numerous political parties, politicians and media in Serbia continued to support convicted war criminals and to give them public space, as well as to deny war crimes, including the genocide in Srebrenica, without consequences," the Report states.
It is also pointed out that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Serbia operate in a difficult environment.
Verbal attacks and discredit campaigns against some civil society organizations intensified, including by high-ranking officials. Campaigns were also conducted by the tabloid media, including the disclosure of personal information of CSO activists. Human rights defenders who have been targeted by spyware have not filed an official complaint due to a lack of trust in the process. Organizations and individuals who criticize the authorities continue to be under pressure, especially those who monitor alleged election irregularities and environmental damage or those who protest against the glorification of war criminals and the exploitation of lithium. "The large number of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), especially those initiated by members of national and local governments, is a serious concern," the European Commission assesses.
In the report on the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is stated that the commitment of the political leadership to the strategic goal of European integration has brought tangible results, especially through the adoption of laws on the integrity of the judiciary, the fight against money laundering and conflicts of interest.
Progress has also been achieved in migration management and full alignment with the EU's common foreign and security policy.
The report states that governance is generally satisfactory and that the BiH Council of Ministers has taken steps towards adopting EU-related reforms, with concrete results before the Commission's report in March 2024, although the positive reformist momentum has stalled since then.
It is concluded that the conduct of elections is negatively affected by the discriminatory elements of the constitutional system and the lack of integrity of the electoral process.
The executive branch has limited capacities for policy coordination and planning. The entity Republika Srpska (RS) continued not to recognize the decisions of the Constitutional Court, violating the constitutional and legal order, which calls into question the authority and integrity of the Constitutional Court. The leadership of the entity continued with secessionist rhetoric. Independent institutions are still weak.
Civil society organizations operate in a limited environment, especially in the RS.
Limited progress has been made in the functioning of the judiciary. Persistent and obvious signs of deterioration continue to call for urgent measures to strengthen the integrity and restore public confidence in the judiciary. The poor functioning of the justice system continued to undermine citizens' rights and the fight against corruption.
Results in the fight against corruption (including high-level corruption) remain weak due to operational inefficiency and political interference. Prosecutors' offices, however, have made progress in numerous investigations into high-level corruption cases. It is stated that the law on the state noivou on the prevention of conflicts of interest, adopted in March 2024, represents a significant step forward, although it is not yet fully in line with European standards.
Regarding fundamental rights, it is stated that the general framework is mostly in place, but needs to be improved. BiH must urgently adopt constitutional and electoral reforms to ensure that all citizens are able to effectively exercise their political rights.
Freedom of assembly is still limited, and civil society is targeted, especially in the RS. The government of that entity withdrew the draft law targeting civil society groups as "foreign agents", the report states, adding that such a legislative initiative should not be reintroduced, as it would be a step backwards.
There was no progress in the area of freedom of expression, freedom of the media and protection of journalists.
"Political pressure, intimidation and harassment of journalists continue, including physical and verbal attacks, without an appropriate institutional response. Political influence on public services continues, and their financial sustainability is increasingly threatened. "Criminal sanctions for defamation in the RS seriously affect freedom of expression and the media and have a chilling effect," the report states.
In March 2024, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission is preparing a negotiation framework with the aim of having it adopted by the Council at the moment when all the relevant steps specified in the Commission's recommendation from October 2022 have been taken.
The EC assessed that North Macedonia is committed to EU membership, but that fundamental reforms and progress in constitutional amendments are necessary. North Macedonia should continue implementing EU-related reforms, especially within the core values cluster, especially in the area of justice, the fight against corruption and organized crime. Confidence in the judicial system must be strengthened.
The Report emphasizes that the country needs to implement essential reforms related to EU membership, to maintain good relations with other countries involved in the enlargement process and to continue engaging in regional initiatives.
"Existing bilateral agreements with neighboring countries should be implemented in good faith by all parties, including the Prespa Agreement between North Macedonia and Greece and the Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria," the Progress Report states.
The text points out that, despite attempts, no progress has been made so far in the adoption of constitutional amendments, which the state has undertaken to initiate and implement in order to include in the Constitution citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other nations, such as Bulgarians, as stated in the conclusions of the EU Council of July 18, 2022.
"Continuous and decisive steps are needed to speed up the implementation of EU reforms and move forward in the process of EU accession negotiations. Cross-party cooperation remains vital in this regard", it is emphasized.
When it comes to Albania, the Commission welcomes the opening of negotiations on the core values cluster at the second intergovernmental conference held on October 15, 2024. It is essential that the authorities further intensify the pace of EU-oriented reforms, especially in the area of the rule of law, consolidation of results in law enforcement, the effective fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as the promotion of basic rights, including freedom of expression and media where no progress has been recorded in the last year.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on the occasion of the publication of the 2024 Enlargement Package that the tense geopolitical context speaks more than anything in favor of the reunification of Europe under the values of democracy and the rule of law.
"We have already made great strides in recent years towards the integration of new members. And enlargement will remain the top priority of the new Commission," said Von der Leyen.
The Commission's announcement states that enlargement remains a merit-based process and depends on objective progress by all partners, as well as requiring determination to implement irreversible reforms in all areas of EU law.
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