Slovenia and Germany have
finalized a 'non-paper' which stipulates that there can be no
vetoes and blockages in the negotiation process ahead of the EU
accession of the Western Balkan countries due to bilateral
disputes. "It is a direct initiative to accelerate the entire
enlargement process," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja
Fajon, quoted by Serbian media. Slovenia, she stressed, is in
the forefront of supporting the European integration of other
countries in the region. The most prominent case of blockade
concerns Bulgaria vis-à-vis North Macedonia. Although officially
opened two years ago, Skopje's accession negotiations with the
EU are at a standstill due to Sofia's intransigent position
demanding amendments to the Macedonian constitution to recognize
and include in it the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia. The
latter country has in recent years settled another long
bilateral dispute with Greece over the former Yugoslav country's
official name. Problems also exist between Croatia and
Montenegro, while the resolution of the dispute between Serbia
and Kosovo is crucial for a real prospect of European
integration for both Belgrade and Pristina.
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