Blockade of chapters presents POSITIVE PRESSURE for Croats: Their Euro-MPs about Serbia's path to EU

Croatian MPs in the European parliament said that Croatia doesn't want to block Serbia on its way towards European Union (EU), but during negotiations Serbia must solve more open questions regarding its neighbors. After the yesterday's discussion in Foreign Affairs Committee about the report and resolution suggested by rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister, Croatian MPs noted some unsolved questions, like issue of missing persons, the return of cultural goods, borders and Serbian law on universal jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes. 

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- We will have to deal with question we have with Serbia during the negotiations. I am not an advocate for the questions to be the reason of chapters not opening, but at the closure of those chapters, the questions must be solved - said Dubravka Suica from Croatian Democratic community (HDZ), reports Hina.

Foto: Flickr/inyucho

Suica said that the interest of Croatia is for "EU borders to move east and for Croatia to no longer be the frontiersman", but also for Serbia to fulfill all the conditions for membership. She said that Croatia is particularly interested in harmonization of foreign and security policy of Serbia with EU policy, "which at the moment is not the case."

- It is fact that pro-Russian politics is often carried out. It will disable Serbia its path toward EU - she added.

Tonino Picula from the Social democratic party (SDP) said that constructive solving of remaining bilateral questions of Serbia with its neighbors is very important for its progress towards EU.

Picula said that Croatia should have active role in the process of accepting neighboring countries in EU because their progress on the European path is in national interest of Croatia.

- Croatia must be interested for progress of the neighbors towards EU and we are doing them a favor if we point out to unsolved questions - said Picula and added that it is not a blockade "but a sort of positive pressure to implement reforms". 

Foto: Tanjug/Dimitrije Goll

Marijana Petir from Croatian Peasant party (HSS) asked the Rapporteur McAllister to assist in resolving the issue about Serbian law on universal jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes. 

- We expect the disputed clauses of the law to be abolished - said Petir adding that the law is "danger for Croatian war defenders" but also to "neighboring states like Kosovo, because based on that law, Ramus Haradinaj was arrested".  

She mentioned the problems with the rule of the law, speaking about Serbia, freedom of the media, cooperation with Hague tribunal and the great influence of Russia.

- That influence is strong and i think Serbia should distance themselves from the Russia's influence, because otherwise, they won't be able to become the member of EU - said Petir.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Beta)