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Overview on Enlargement Countries

Overview on Enlargement Countries. MGSC Luxemburg March 2015. What happens with Enlargement?. Bundling of Elarg Negotiations and Neighbourhood Policy in one DG of the Commission Perspective of Enlargement is maintained and Enlargement Negotiations continue

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Overview on Enlargement Countries

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  1. Overview on Enlargement Countries MGSC Luxemburg March 2015

  2. What happens with Enlargement? • Bundling of Elarg Negotiations and Neighbourhood Policy in one DG of the Commission • Perspective of Enlargement is maintained and • Enlargement Negotiations continue • But no enlargement under this Commission • In the process focus on fundamentals first: These are rule of law, public administration reform and economic governance and competitiveness

  3. What has changed until now? • Rule of law requirements are now front-loaded in the process to give countries maximum time to develop solid track records and ensure reform is deeply rooted and irreversible. • New centres of expertise in NEAR • Economic Reform Programmes submitted by each Western Balkan Enlargement Country and currently under evaluation in the Commission

  4. What will change? • Looking ahead to our next enlargement package, we are currently reflecting on how we can further improve our reporting. • Introduction of more elements of comparability and benchmarking between the countries in the progress reports, in particular in areas under the political and economic criteria. • This will help strengthen the transparence and credibility of the process, make it clearer where countries stand and still have to do and provide further incentives for reform. • New Statistical Annex, revised chapter 18 (among others)

  5. Overview by country • On the following slides short description of the state of play • Iceland not included as • Government of Iceland withdrew application for EU-membership on 12 March 2014

  6. Turkey • Progress Report confirmed that Turkey is a key country for EU and that accession negotiations. However, they are blocked for well-known reasons: Cyprus issue, insufficient dynamics in reforms in Turkey 2014. • Concerns on media freedom and detention of journalists in December 2014. • Readmission agreement entered into force, Further Visa-liberalization under negotiation (Visa-Roadmap)r( • Last chapter opened in 2013 (regional policy) • Negotiations could regain momentum by working towards the opening of chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy.

  7. Montenegro • Candidate Country since 2010 • Track record on chapter 23 and 24 crucial for further progress in negotiations ("imbalance clause") • Council did not evoke imbalance clause • A series of laws adopted in 2014 on rule of law • 16 chapters opened (4 additional in December opened 2014 among which statistics)

  8. Serbia • Was granted status of a Candidate Country on 1 March 2012 • Accession negotiations launched by 21 January 2014 intergovernmental conference • Screening successfully completed. • Track record on chapter 23 and 24 and relations with Kosovo crucial for further progress in negotiations. • Compliant proposal on NUTS nomenclature for Serbia key for further progress in chapter 18 *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

  9. former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia • Candidate Country since 2005 • Commission has proposed the 6th time opening of negotiations • Key issue: Settlement on the name of the country • Without forward momentum on the EU path, there is a risk of backsliding on reforms, or even potential instability. EU will need to find ways to encourage reform efforts and to provide the country with a real perspective.

  10. Albania • Overall positive development • Positive assessment of the Candidate Country Potential in the 2013 regular report • Council granted Albania Candidate Country status in 2014 • Opening of negotiations will depend on further progress notably in rule of law (track record) and public administration reform • Political Debate between government and opposition to take place in parliament

  11. Bosnia-Herzegovina • HLAD –High Level Accession dialogue started in June 2012 • Progress in meeting political objectives not obvious • Progress in the hands of the leaders of the country/entities • COM to engage with BiH leadership, institutions and political leaders, aimed towards a written commitment to the reform agenda. • EU prepared to reward progress (Council to decide on SAA entry into force and later on a potential EU membership application) based on concrete improvements

  12. Kosovo * • New government is (finally) in place. • Initialling of the SAA is important step forward. • Kosovo also needs to deliver in dialogue with Belgrade and address the many challenges ahead, especially on the rule of law. • Visa facilitation process ongoing. *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

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