The Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, whose country has received
the EU presidency for the past two weeks, was invited at the European
Parliament to discuss the priorities of this presidency on the EU
enlargement.
Although it is not included in the six-month period of presidency, Minister Koenders said that enlargement should be based on the EU agenda, and that the presidency pays major attention to the credibility of this process. He reminded the Dutch approach “strict, by honest”, for the progress of candidate countries, based on the principle of individual merits.
Bert Koenders, Foreign Minister of Netherlands, EU Presidency: “‘Strict’ in the sense that all conditions should be fulfilled, without ‘but’ or ‘if’. The candidate countries are responsible to fulfill these conditions. ‘Honest’ in the sense that that countries are assisted with seriousness, based on the respective needs and political developments, with a technical and financial aid for the various reform processes. This also means that the EU must keep its promises and vote positively when a country has fulfilled the criteria, in order to take the next enlargement step.”
Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro were seen as the most advanced countries in the negotiation process. For Albania, the Dutch Minister reiterated the stance of the Council of December, focusing on the justice reform. He expressed his “deep concern for the political situation in Macedonia”, and said that Bosnia and Kosovo are on their initial phases. He reminded that the Stabilization Association Agreement with the EU will enter in effect this Spring.
Bert Koenders: Albania has stable progress in treating the key priorities for opening the accession negotiations. More efforts are needed for passing the justice reform.
In general, the rule of law, the basic rights, the public administration and the fight against corruption are on the focus of the Dutch presidency as regards enlargement. “All candidate countries have serious irregularities in the rule of law”, according to him, and “the structural reforms are more necessary than ever”.
The recent dutch presidency dates from 2004, but this is the most difficult one, due to the fragile situation and the eastern border of the organization, the terrorist threat to security, the refugees, etc. According to the Hague Chief Diplomat, if the EU does not export stability, it will import destability”.
Prepared by: Arta TOZAJ
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