The countries of the region achieved "small steps" on the way to the EU

Member of the European Parliament (EP) Vladimir Bilčik said that the process of enlargement to the Western Balkans is extremely difficult, because the countries of the region have achieved "small steps" on that path.
Participating in the panel of the Balkan Integration Forum "Western Balkans and EU Integration - Reflections of Russian Aggression on Ukraine", he said that it is not possible to talk about the end of the process and the precise date of closing the chapter, because the countries of the region are currently facing various crises.
"The resolution of these crises will be the basis for the further issue of enlargement. Montenegro took the lead in the accession negotiations, but if the current crisis is not resolved, it is difficult to expect progress in the near future," said Bilčik.
He appealed to politicians in Montenegro to unite the country.
"Because Montenegro can be a success story and we can have Montenegro in the EU within a couple of years," added Bilčik.
He said that Russia is trying to use the Western Balkans as an important front for its interests, for its hybrid war against Europe.
Bilčik believes that all 27 member states must become more involved in events in the region, and that partners from the Western Balkans must be more politically engaged and provide clear results.
"Europe has become a victim of domestic policies within the Balkans and a choice needs to be made. Enlargement is the right choice, but it concerns huge reforms that will help the region break ties with the past and hostile ties, primarily with Russia. It will take time, courage and important decisions ", said Bilčik.
He said that next week the EP will vote on a resolution that will recognize Russia as someone who finances terrorism, a state that uses terrorist means.
EU to show more enthusiasm and present a clear enlargement plan
The Russian aggression against Ukraine brought major changes and brought the expansion of the European Union (EU) back into focus, but the countries of the Western Balkans, in order to progress on the way to the Union, must solve the crises they are facing, the Balkan Integration Forum (BIF) said. .
At the mentioned panel, it was assessed that the EU should show more enthusiasm and present a clear plan with an enlargement year in which the countries of the Western Balkans, or at least most of them, will become members.
North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Bojan Maričik, said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine showed that it is difficult to remain neutral at this time, and that it pressured practically all European countries to take a stand on it.
As he said, the Russian aggression against Ukraine showed that the NATO alliance is still important as an organization.
"If North Macedonia was not in NATO, our security and political situation would certainly be more complicated. The EU needs to make a clear plan as soon as possible with an enlargement year in which the countries of the Western Balkans, or at least the majority of them, will become members," said Maričik.
According to him, the long negotiations and waiting for them to start have a great impact on the mood of citizens in the Western Balkan countries, as well as on the image of the EU.
Croatia profited from EU membership
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Vesna Pusić, said that Croatia benefited from its membership in the EU, but that it did not get anywhere geographically, and that it is in the interest of that country that the entire region of the Western Balkans be in the EU.
"Croatia should lead a consistent policy of pushing and lobbying so that in accordance with the reforms and changes implemented by the countries, they progress towards membership," Pusić added.
She said that she supports the fact that Ukraine and Moldova have received candidate status, but pointed out that the countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans are two different processes as far as the EU is concerned.
"The countries of the Eastern Partnership are an expansion of the EU, but the countries of the Western Balkans are not an expansion, they are a consolidation of the territory. These are the countries that are surrounded by the territory of the EU, whose failure to turn towards (Vladimir) Putin is a security issue for the EU," Pusić pointed out.
She believes that the EU must have and develop a proactive approach towards the Western Balkans, as was the case when the Baltic countries integrated into the EU.
Krivokapić: Montenegro is regressing on the way to the EU
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ranko Krivokapić, said that Montenegro, which was a leader in European integration in the region, is regressing on its way to the EU.
"In Montenegro, when you govern badly, democracy is not your alternative, but Belgrade. The only way to defend Montenegro is democracy," said Krivokapić.
As he said, Montenegro does not need commissioners in the EU, but in the prosecution and judiciary.
"In short, to strengthen the European criminal law, to extend the competences of the European prosecutor to the candidate countries. This will be the greatest help," said Krivokapić.
Crnadak: It is important that all countries of the Western Balkans become part of the EU, and a clear term is needed
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Igor Crnadak said that it is important that all the countries of the Western Balkans become part of the EU, and that a clear date is needed when this will happen.
He believes that the problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina, when it comes to European integration, is that politicians have been declaring themselves European for years, while they are anti-European.
Speaking about the conditional candidate status for BiH, Crnadak said that the deadline to fulfill the conditions by December is unrealistic, because it is unlikely that the government will be constituted at all levels in BiH by then.
"If the government was formed, all these conditions would be achievable within seven, because there are ready-made materials for most of the laws, but the problem is that there is no political will," Crnadak pointed out.
Serbian journalist Boško Jakšić said that SNS, led by Aleksandar Vučić, was constantly moving Serbia away from the EU and the West, while bringing it closer to the East.
He said that Serbia has come to a situation where the war in Ukraine has brought a clear choice - "either it will opt for the values ​​of liberal democracy and show solidarity with the EU in joining the sanctions against Russia, or it will go into the arms of Putin".
"I don't think Vučić will go into Putin's arms, because Vučić's political project was created with a lot of help from the West," added Jakšić.
He believes that much more political will is needed for the states of the region to become part of the EU, and that the Union must allocate much more funds for the region.
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