Brussels gives Croatia, Russia green light; Serbia amber (Roundup)

Nov 5, 2008, 13:51 GMT

Brussels - The European Union's executive on Wednesday moved to strengthen ties with Eastern Europe by giving a conditional green light to Croatia's membership, calling for a re-launch of strategic talks with Russia and offering Serbia a chance of possible candidacy.

'Croatia is expected to reach the final phase of accession negotiations by the end of 2009 if it has taken the necessary preparatory steps,' the European Commission said in an annual report on the former Yugoslav republic's progress towards membership.

It is the first time that the EU's Brussels-based executive has set out a timetable for Croatia to become the EU's 28th member since the Adriatic state became a candidate in 2004.

But EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn insisted that the timetable was not a 'blank cheque' for membership, and that the government in Zagreb would have to speed up reforms in key areas such as shipbuilding and the judiciary.

'The timetable is indicative and may have to be adapted ... The ball is firmly in Croatia's court,' he underlined.

If Croatia manages to bring its legislation into line with EU norms in 35 areas - the so-called 'chapters' - by the end of 2009, it will be able to join the EU once all current member states have approved its entry, a process which usually takes some 18 months.

But that may not be easy, as leading states including France and Germany have said that there can be no further enlargement until the bloc ratifies the Lisbon Treaty - a process brought to an abrupt halt by an Irish referendum on June 12.

'I hope that (the Lisbon issue) will not be used as an argument to slow down the accession process of such countries as Croatia, which is overall making good progress,' Rehn said.

Wednesday's commission meeting also called on the bloc to re-open in the coming days talks on a strategic deal with Russia which EU leaders froze following Russia's occupation of Georgia in August.

'It is the view of the commission that the next negotiating sessions should be scheduled now ... first because this would allow the EU to pursue its own interests with Russia, and secondly because this is the best way to engage with Russia on the basis of a unified position,' a commission report said.

Diplomats in Brussels told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that the bloc's foreign ministers are now expected to call for a re-launch of talks at a meeting on Monday, despite calls from member states such as the Baltic States and Poland for the talks to remain frozen as long as Russian troops remain in Georgia.

The commission meeting also held out the hope for Serbia, with Rehn saying that 'under the best possible scenario, Serbia may still be able to obtain candidate status in 2009.'

However, any such move would depend on Belgrade's ability to prove that it is doing its utmost to catch the last remaining war-crimes suspects, he stressed.

The annual report proved less hopeful for Turkey, a candidate for membership since 1999, calling on the country to step up political and legal reforms.

'The key to making progress is not for politicians to ask for a date. The key is indeed to sit down and agree on reforms in the government, in the parliament, and encourage administration to implement these reforms seriously,' Rehn insisted.

However, in an unusual move, the report also highlighted Turkey's importance as a key transit route for gas coming from the Caspian basin to Europe without passing through Russia - a key EU concern in the light of the summer's Georgian-Russian war.

'Turkey's geo-strategic position gives the country a vital role in the EU's energy security, particularly diversification of energy sources. Closer energy cooperation between the EU (and) Turkey ... is essential,' the paper said.

The report had stern words for the third current candidate for EU membership, Macedonia, which in the summer held parliamentary elections marred by serious violence.

'Violent incidents and serious irregularities marred parliamentary elections. A constructive political dialogue and decisive action are needed to implement reforms,' it said.

Of the other states of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro must work much harder to improve its law and justice system, while Bosnia-Herzegovina has yet to prove that it is capable of implementing major EU-related reforms, the report said.

The EU will provide funding to help small and medium companies in the Balkans weather the current financial storm, Rehn said.