(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 28 JUNE - The EU accepted the application
for accession negotiations with Montenegro; this confirms that
the enlargement process "has resumed", as stated by Stefano
Sannino, the Director of the DG for enlargement of the European
Commission who, during a conference on Western Balkans which
took place in Brussels today explained how the mechanism changed
throughout the years. After the maxi-enlargement in 2004 and
2007, "we learnt the lesson", Sannino said, "and in the
meanwhile, the European Union has changed too."
The first state to be affected by these changes was Croatia;
sections 23 and 24 (on justice and fundamental rights) were
embedded into the accession negotiations , including fight to
corruption and organised crime. "Now, with Montenegro, these are
the first sectors to be taken into consideration", the person
responsible of the EU Commission added on the day before the
interministerial conference which will mark the official start
of accession talks with Podgorica. According to Sannino, while
we wait for Croatia's accession in July 2013, "the EU's decision
to start negotiations with Podgorica proves that the enlargement
process is real" and might serve as an example for all the other
countries in the region, still lagging behind. Montenegro
committed itself and this led the country to advance
significantly.
''Last March", Sannino added, "Serbia obtained the status of
candidate countries and we will see the way it will be
translated in the future. With Bosnia, we came to an agreement
regarding a road map, in order to allow the country to present a
credible accession application by the end of the year". There
is no "enlargement wave" approach now as it was the case in the
past: when a country is ready to take this step, it will access
the EU, without having to wait for the other countries. ''There
are no shortcuts to the EU," the director of the DG for
Enlargement concluded. Sannino also stressed that requirements
are clear for all, from legislation to fight against corruption.
No forecasts for the future then but one thing is certain: the new EU enlargement process "is not a short way".(ANSAmed).
No forecasts for the future then but one thing is certain: the new EU enlargement process "is not a short way".(ANSAmed).
