Olli Rehn: 2008 mogelijk cruciaal jaar voor toetredingsonderhandelingen Kroatië en Macedonië (en)

SPEECH/08/186

Olli Rehn

EU Commissioner for Enlargement

2008 a year of benchmarks for Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

European Parliament Plenary session

Brussels, 9 April 2008

President, Honourable Members,

I welcome the report of Mr. Hannes Swoboda on Croatia and the one of Mr. Erik Meijer i on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

On Croatia, I find that the Swoboda report addresses the main issues where Croatia will face challenges on its path to the EU, particularly in the political sphere. It is a good report that will reflect realities even better, if amendments 6 and 7 from the rapporteur are adopted.

Croatia's accession negotiations have been going well, though they have been affected by the application of the ecological and fisheries protection zone (ZERP). I welcome the recent decision of the Croatian parliament to suspend the application of all aspects of the ZERP for EU vessels, in line with earlier commitments.

I commend PM Sanader for his leadership and thank President Barroso i for his personal engagement to settle the issue. Removal of this obstacle by Croatia should now allow for chapters to be unblocked and negotiations to resume again at normal pace, allowing for substantial progress under the remaining months of the Slovenian Presidency.

Croatia has much work ahead. Concrete progress is needed in judicial, administrative and economic reforms, in the fight against corruption and on refugee return and minority rights. Croatia will also need to continue to make progress on various open bilateral issues with neighbours.

2008 could be a decisive year in the accession negotiations. Provided a number of conditions are met by Croatia, the Commission in this autumn’s Enlargement package will present an indicative timetable, or a conditional roadmap, for the technical conclusion of the negotiations in 2009, preferably even during the mandate of this Commission.

To achieve this, Croatia needs to deliver on all opening benchmarks by June. She will also need to comply with all obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and ensure urgent and significant improvements in the management of EU financial assistance.

The Commission is ready to process negotiating positions in the various chapters once benchmarks are met. The ball is in Croatia's court. The sooner concrete results are achieved, the sooner Croatia will join the EU.

Concerning the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, I broadly share the assessment of the Meijer report regarding the reform process.

Following the granting of candidate status in 2005, there was a slowdown. However the Commission's rather critical Progress Report of 2007 has been followed by corrective actions. Important reforms have been adopted since then, in particular to strengthen the judiciary, reform the police and improve inter-ethnic relations. I take note of the recommendation that the European Commission should develop a set of benchmarks for the opening of accession negotiations this year.

I would like to inform you that we have established eight benchmarks, derived from the key priorities of the new Accession Partnership. A recommendation to start accession negotiations will depend upon progress which the country has made in meeting these benchmarks. We shall make our assessment this autumn in the enlargement package.

I set out our approach to President Crvenkovski and PM Gruevski when I visited Skopje on 6-7 March, and I was encouraged by their constructive and concrete response. The government has established an Action Plan for meeting the benchmarks and has prepared a new National Plan for the Adoption of the Acquis. We are closely monitoring progress in meeting these benchmarks.

Evidently, political stability will be essential for success. I have therefore called upon all political forces in the country to concentrate their energies on the reform agenda in order to take advantage of the opportunities which this year holds for the country.

I repeat this call today, as it is no less important now, in the aftermath of the Nato summit in Bucharest. The name issue has consumed much political energy, lately. I understand the disappointment experienced in Bucharest last week, and I welcome the political leadership's determination to continue on the road towards NATO / EU integration.

I share the concern of the Parliament that financial cooperation should be implemented efficiently. The budget for the country from the IPA programme is quite considerable and amounts to € 244 million for the period 2008-10. The Commission is helping the country's authorities to take up a new role in the decentralised implementation system.

President, Honourable Members,

Let me conclude by noting that we are discussing developments in the two countries at a very appropriate point in time. Both countries are in a position to make this year a very special and even decisive one in terms getting more and more closely integrated with the European Union.

Support and encouragement from both the Commission and the European Parliament will be highly important for them. I very much appreciate your invaluable contribution to our European policy of stability and progress in the Western Balkans.