Rehn: Give In, Don`t Be Emotional Balkan People

I don`t want to paint the devil on the wall, but if you don`t accept out proposal, you might be prevented in ending talks by end of 09.

As a response to our question, what sort of consequences would occur as Croatia refused the mediation commission which he proposed as a solution for the border dispute with Slovenia, spokesperson of European Union expansion commissioner Olli Rehn sent us Mr. Rehn`s speech, which he held today in Brussels, looking back on yesterday`s announcements from Zagreb.

At first, he praised Croatia for efforts of meeting the terms towards the European Commission`s agenda since November, so that the negotiations might be finalised by the end of 2009 amd then he pointed out the problems of insufficient fight against organised crime and corruption, as well as restructing its ship-building industry.

Rehn especially looked back on Croatia`s co-operation with The Hague Tribunal, as he is in constant contact with chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz regarding this issue.

- Full co-operation remains a necessary condition to move ahead in negotiations – rehn pointed out in today`s speech.

He then reported the situation of solving the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia.

- As you know, to our regret, the border issue with Slovenia is currently blocking Croatia`s progress in the accession negotiations. We have put forward a proposal for a certain kind of European facilitation, which should help solving the border issue and allow continuing Croatia`s accession negotiations. All previous attempts to resolve this issue have failed over the past 18 years. Since I cannot see another viable way forward, I expect a positive response to our initiative by both countries, without such impossible conditions that would effectively imply its rejection. Otherwise I am concerned that Croatia may be prevented from concluding its accession negotiations in the envisaged timeline.

But I don` t want to paint the devil on the wall yet, and I try to remain confident that such realism will prevail that would allow Croatia to conclude accession negotiations in due time - provided that all legitimate conditions are met, of course.

If this realism of the will sounds too Nordic in the context of the Balkans, I am glad to confess my cultural prejudice and to elaborate on the merits of the Nordic way of rationalism over emotionalism in the construction of Europe.

To conclude, enlargement has served as a driver of liberty and democracy and an anchor of peace and prosperity in Europe. We, on the EU side, are advancing our enlargement agenda in the troubled context of the economic crisis and other political challenges. In the same way, the Western Balkans have to push their European agenda forward to face the challenges we share. Let me wish Croatia the best of success in its European endeavour which we share – Olli Rehn concluded his speech.