“EU ENLARGEMENT PERSPECTIVES’’ An introduction to the new EU Enlargement Package

1. “EU ENLARGEMENT PERSPECTIVES’’ An introduction to the new EU Enlargement Package Central European University 8 November, 2010 AMBASSADOR VINCENT DEGERT HEAD OF DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

2. EU ENLARGEMENT POLICY = A SUCCESS STORY 1.1 THE 5TH ENLARGEMENT - A HISTORIC LANDMARK 1.2 THE 5TH ENLARGEMENT - GOOD FOR ALL 2. IS THE EU CONSTANTLY ‘INVENTING NEW HURDLES’ FOR NEWCOMERS? 3. THE WESTERN BALKANS AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE EU • THE ACCESSION PROCESS • CURRENT SITUATION OF EACH COUNTRY • CHALLENGES • REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COUNTRIES • RISKS ENTAILED

3. EU ENLARGEMENT POLICY = A SUCCESS STORY • EU ENLARGEMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE MOST (IF NOT THE MOST) SUCCESSFULL POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. • A policy that has brought peace and prosperity, reunification of Europe, ‘a reconciliation of history and geography’, (Jacques DELORS)

4. 1.1 THE 5TH ENLARGEMENT - A HISTORIC LANDMARK • Twelve countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean joined the European Union in two waves in 2004 and 2007. • The biggest ever enlargement of the EU just 15 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. • A historic step towards unifying Europe after several decades of divisions resulting from the Cold War.

5. 1.2. THE 5TH ENLARGEMENT – GOOD FOR ALL Standards of living in Europe have improved significantly over the past decade. EU standards of living are among the highest in the world. • Income per capita rose from 40% average in 1999 to 52% in 2008, reflecting better living standards, • Increased growth from 3.5%, in 1999-2003 to 5.5% in 2004-08, • 3.000.000 jobs created during 2003-2007. • * Sources: DG ECFIN report 20 February 2009, Eurostat, Eurobarometer

6. 2. IS THE EU CONSTANTLY ‘INVENTING NEW HURDLES’ FOR NEWCOMERS? THE ANSWER IS NO!! - Copenhagen criteria, However, enlargement requirements reflect the constant evolution of the integration process.

7. 3. THE WESTERN BALKANS AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE EU I) The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP, Zagreb 2000) - A new concept of stability, - Economic and financial commitment, - Regional cooperation. II) Same principle: own merit. III) Visa Liberalisation, a test case: If benchmarks are met → EU delivers.

8. 4. THE ACCESSION PROCESS Accession Accession treaty ratified by all Member States and the candidate countries 35 chapters of negotiation – screening and benchmarks The Council decides on the opening of accession negotiations with the candidate countries The Council requests an opinion from the Commission and decides on the validity of the candidacy Potential candidate countries apply for EU membership

9. 5. CURRENT SITUATION OF EACH COUNTRY IN THE REGION

10. 6.CHALLENGES Further progress: Move to next stage Finalisation of negotiations CROATIA: Referendum Ratification in Croatia and Member States Positive opinion by the EC SERBIA: Start of negotiations in a ‘not distant future’ after the opinion

11. 7.REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COUNTRIES • RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND VALUES • GOOD GOVERNANCE • RULE OF LAW • ALIGNEMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF EU ACQUIS 5. INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT (Predictability, Stability) • FUNCTIONING MARKET ECONOMY 7. INDEPENDENT REGULATORY BODIES 8. MINORITIES 9. COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST 10. REGIONAL COOPERATION

12. 8.RISKS ENTAILED • OVERALL GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS……. • BILATERAL UNRESOLVED ISSUES…….. • MIGRATION FLOWS…… • ENLARGEMENT FATIGUE….