The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Serbia Has 'Illusions' on EU Accession Date
Belgrade | 09 February 2010 | Bojana Barlovac
The WAZ.EUobserver article, entitled "Serbia's Great Accession Illusion", argues that Serbia might obtain EU candidate status in 2011 but that it is not very likely that it will become a full member of the union before 2018.
Recent research conducted by the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy shows that almost half the Serbian population believe their country will join the EU in less than five years.
"Accession talks could start in 2012 and be concluded in 2016, with actual entry in 2018. However, in view of likely complications down the road, 2020 is a much more realistic estimate," the article read.
Serbia's president, Boris Tadic, officially submitted his country's application to join the EU on December 22, 2009. If it is approved by the EU Council of Ministers, it will be forwarded to the European Commission, which will then send Serbia a questionnaire with some 3000 queries. The response to the candidacy application will be issued after Belgrade completes the questionnaire.
The website claims that the application will not be taken into consideration before Serbia finalizes its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. This includes the arrest and extradition of the two remaining war crimes fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic.
The date when Serbia’s application will be on the agenda of the EU Council of Ministers will be the main topic at a meeting between Bozidar Djelic, Serbia's deputy prime minister, and the commissioner-designate for enlargement, Stefan Fuele, on February 11.
According to the website, Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008, is seen as a determining factor in the speed of Serbia's progress towards EU.
"Even if Serbia manages to sail through the negotiations without the Kosovo issue being brought to a definitive solution, there can be no doubt that the countries recognising Kosovo's independence will not give a green light for accession unless a Kosovo deal is struck. No one in the EU is ready to admit another Cyprus," the article reports.
