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Enlargement of the European union has become a 'hot potato' for Brussels and for fellow member states. EURACTIV addressed the result in a debate on Tuesday (v June), where diplomats and journalists talked freely about the perceived reluctance of some member states towards admitting new countries, and about the existing internal obstacles.

In 2025, Montenegro might exist gear up to knock on the European union's door for accession, twelve years after the last new member, Croatia, joined. Equally the front-runner of the European union integration race in the Western Balkans, the country has opened all just 1 of the 35 negotiating chapters. Iii capacity have been provisionally closed to engagement and the rest are work-in-progress.

Only despite Montenegro'south performance among the bloc of half-dozen countries, EURACTIV'southward senior editor Georgi Gotev questioned whether the EU would reciprocate.

Montenegro'southward ambassador to EU, Bojan Šarkić, gave an honest reply: "First of all, it's more or less clear that at that place won't be any enlargement inside this Commission," he said, referring to what Commission President Jean-Claude Junker warned when he took role.

Šarkić went on to question the EU's hold-back, despite Commissioner Johannes Hahn'south talk nigh a "reinvigorated enlargement agenda" in recent days.

"Why does nobody want to touch the enlargement, which was the virtually successful policy of the Eu? It'southward completely ridiculous. Information technology insults the intelligence of anyone effectually," Šarkić said.

EU officials often say that enlargement has been one of the EU'due south greatest successes, but capitals keep it on hold.

For the starting time time, no opening of new chapters was recommended for Montenegro in the Committee's latest annual report, believed to be more negative than in previous years. Shortcomings in media liberty, fight against corruption and human trafficking have been highlighted as top priorities to be addressed.

And but two months ago the uppercase Podgorica saw weeks of protests against the land's powerful, long-serving leader Milo Djukanović, demanding that his government resign over alleged corruption and cronyism.

Ambassador Šarkić said his state'southward preference was clearly individual accession based on its ain merits, rather than a "bundle accession" with other countries in the region. He also questioned the EU policy of integrating the Western Balkans through economical cooperation, rather than integrating them with the European union.

The ambassador of Montenegro requests that the EU pushes farther for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans and advises non to look until the Balkan economies integrate to grant accession. If countries are set, they should just join, he adds. #eaDebates movie.twitter.com/odOMaq6ZvI

— EURACTIV Politics (@eaPolitics) June iv, 2019

"Why should we put joint structures between Western Balkan countries and merely then join the Eu? Nosotros had them within Yugoslavia and at present nosotros're supposed to come back to it? This has absolutely no logic," the diplomat said.

Only Montenegro is not alone in its anger confronting the EU's apparent coolness towards the Balkans. It's quondam federal partner and less Euro-Atlantic enthusiastic neighbor, Serbia, readily joined in.

"It is a little bit baroque that from four chapters opened per presidency, we are coming to one affiliate," the first secretary of Serbia's mission to EU, Danijel Apostolović, told the audience.

A representative of the Permanent Mission of Serbia to the EU denounces that, fifty-fifty though big progress has been fabricated, the lack of accession prospects in the following 5 years or at least the volition to push for it from the EU side, seems to discourage Serbian citizens. #eaDebates pic.twitter.com/WZqJMWdo7v

— EURACTIV Politics (@eaPolitics) June iv, 2019

He explained: "We're hoping to open up two chapters at the side by side Intergovernmental Briefing, just it seems that some of the member states are not so happy to give the light-green light. It seems that there will be only ane [chapter opened]."

The Commission's progress report on Serbia was hardly encouraging either. Judicial independence, abuse, organised criminal offense and media freedom are among the Eu's main concerns, bug which are repeated beyond the region.

But information technology seems that Serbia and the European union executive have different views on the speed of reform in the country: "Nosotros advanced the final lot in reforms, although the last European Commission report doesn't recognize it in the manner we want it to be recognised", alleged the Serbian diplomat, who doubts his land will make it to the 2025 accretion milestone.

Due north Republic of macedonia and Albania both received a nod from the EU executive to open accession talks and take hold of up with their northern neighbours. Even so, Albania seems to exist the black sheep of the duo.

EU diplomats accept told EURACTIV that at that place may exist pressure level on the Commission to perchance decouple the two and say 'we do non recall that Republic of albania is ready to open up negotiations at this stage', while acknowledging the demand to reward "the big strides" Due north Republic of macedonia has made.

The Netherlands, in particular, is set to give Albania a difficult time, and is already seeking to suspend the visa-free regime that the land enjoys, over fears of its mafia moving freely across the EU.

Republic of albania has as well been tormented for months past street protests and a parliamentary opposition revolting against a socialist authorities accused of corruption. The political crunch could take a spill-over issue on the Council'southward decision expected at the end of June.

"I know the political situation is not proficient, merely in that location are a lot of immature people in Albania who dream of studying and working in the EU. I hope the Council will evangelize a positive stance for us and North Macedonia. Otherwise, people volition lose their promise and dream of the Eu", noted Uarda Celami, a counsellor at the Mission of Albania to European union.

The councillor of the Permanent Mission of Albania to the EU explains that Republic of albania is moving forward slowly but with determination. Albanian citizens, especially young people, agree hope that Albania will ane day join the guild. #eaDebates pic.twitter.com/KoophCzhOQ

— EURACTIV Politics (@eaPolitics) June four, 2019

Bosnia and Herzegovina, the last to employ for membership in the European lodge, also acknowledged its internal problems.

The EU has in the by discouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina from tabling a membership application, over doubts whether the three ethnic communities in the country tin really commit to living together.

"We had some internal difficulties, but we hope that with some assist from the  EU we volition be able to overcome them and proceed further towards the European union," Mitar Kujundzić, minister-counsellor in Bosnia'south representation to the EU, told the audience.

A representative of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia & Herzegovina to the EU explains that a hot topic is withal the cohabitation of dissimilar communities in the country. They back up economic integration with other candidate countries as their successes benefit them too #eaDebates pic.twitter.com/Ap5bqfqfG4

— EURACTIV Politics (@eaPolitics) June 4, 2019

The Commission last week published its 'Avis', or stance on Bosnia-Herzegovina's application, identifying 14 key priorities the country needs to address and providing a roadmap for reforms.

"Later on the Opinion was published, there are already activities in our country regarding the plan to implement the recommendations", he said.

[Edited by Georgi Gotev and Zoran Radosavljevic]

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Source: https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/enlargement-debate-western-balkans-torn-between-hope-and-outrage/

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