Swoboda Confirms: Europe Has Given Up on Croatia

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EU’s message is that Croatia has to solve its problems with Slovenia itself. Swoboda says entry into the EU has been postponed indefinitely.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – We asked the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Croatia, Hannes Swoboda, what it means that the European Union has postponed accession negotiations with Croatia. Back at the beginning of the month he was sending optimistic messages to the public that he believed in a positive solution to Slovenia’s blockade of Croatia’s negotiations and that Croatia would access the European Union by early 2012. Today, he says differently.

From 2007 to date unknown

The first date of Croatia’s entry into the European Union, on which former prime minister Ivica Racan counted on, was the year 2007. The current prime minister, Ivo Sanader, counted on the year 2009, then 2010, then 2012 and now:.. date unknown.

This decision means that Croatia has to find a solution together with Slovenia, which does not mean we are giving up on you. We are trying to find a way to find a solution between the two countries, Swoboda told Javno.

When asked if this meant that Croatia’s accession into the EU is being postponed until an unknown date, Swoboda said that Croatia had to be aware of the fact that its entry is being postponed until an undetermined time.

Asked if the message is that Europe has no solution for the problem between Croatia and Slovenia, he said that before a solution is reached, Croatia had to reach an agreement with Slovenia.

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Član Beljevina

26.06.2009 04:23 h

EU Sanctioned Progression Blockage

I think most of Croatia is tired of hearing sounds bites from Swoboda with whatever imbalanced EU spin he decides to put on them - be it his almost quarterly pronnouncement of "Croatia will be in the EU on such-and-such date", to then drastically alter the date in the next week - or be it his latest simpleton statement and now EU-wide sanction response (thanks to Bildt) that "Croatia must solve this problem with the Slovenia." There is little to no motivation for Slovenia to do so, thus Croatia is being held hostage by yet another EU formality. It's interesting how when Croatia wanted to implement a fishing & ecological zone based on internationally recognized maritime law, which would have solely impacted Slovenia & Italy - the EU unleashed it's wrath against Croatia - "bilateral issue" is clearly the terminology used when there's self interest, be it economic or (perceived) stature. Another angle rarely openly discussed is the possibility that Slovenia is making unreasonable and unjustified claims, to force Croatia to the table and expecting the outcome (ie., the desired 'mediation') to walk away with at least a part of the absurd demands. Hence, taking the matter to the international land claims court is something they will not submit to. Since the EU is declaring itself inept in this matter and not moving things to the next stage which they've clearly committed to Croatia, Croatia too should start renegging on the favourtism it's had to show to the EU, ie., their ability to purchased Croatian real estate unhindered. It's unfortunate Croatia doesn't have the leadership or ability to honestly assess what the EU will do for them, and instead of being led into an organization with questionable merit, spend more time modelling the many successful non-EU states both in Europe and around the world. But that would take political leadership, and that's another commentary.

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