Slovenia's blockade against Croatia sets dangerous precedent for the Western Balkans / 26-06-2009

"The suspension of the next round of accession negotiations between the European Union and Croatia , originally scheduled for tomorrow, creates a dangerous precedent", said the Chairwoman of the European Parliament's South-Eastern Europe Delegation, Doris Pack MEP. This suspension of negotiations, already well-advanced, not only jeopardises the time schedule of Croatia's accession; it is also the first time that a bilateral problem has lead to the full blockade of a candidate country, whose accession capability is beyond any doubt.

"I agree with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, that the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia is a purely bilateral matter. However, it is particularly disturbing that the border question was not a problem for Ljubljana as long as it was an EU external border but has suddenly become problematic as an EU internal frontier. There is a considerable suspicion that the border dispute serves only as a blockade pretext", the Chairwoman continued.

Doris Pack also expressed her disappointment that the European Commissioner for Enlargement and the Council Presidency obviously gave way to the Slovenian blockade. Croatia had clearly agreed to leave the current border in the Piran-Bucht subject to scrutiny of an international arbitrage commission and that it would respect any final arbitrage decision - independent of its outcome. "Therefore, I cannot see any obstacle to continue accession negotiations between the European Union and Croatia, as the border question does not affect open negotiation chapters", said the German MEP.

Slovenia 's behaviour towards Croatia therefore not only lacks neighbourly goodwill, but also sends a completely misleading signal to the entire Western Balkans. There is a growing danger that other countries could also refer to this negative example thereby unleashing a complete blockade of the whole region and its accession aspirations. "As a consequence, I am again appealing to Slovenia to remember its own accession to the European Union, which was not delayed or prevented by any neighbouring country. This is a positive indication that the European Union actually takes its promises seriously to give all countries of the Western Balkans an accession perspective and that it remains worthwhile to continue with the necessary reforms", Doris Pack concluded.

(Portal Europe)