CZECHS PREVIEW 2009 PRESIDENCY AGENDA FOR BALKANS

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000747

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SR
SUBJECT: CZECHS PREVIEW 2009 PRESIDENCY AGENDA FOR BALKANS



1. (U) The Czech Embassy hosted on May 17, 2007 in Belgrade a
discussion panel on the program priorities of the Czech Republic
when it assumes the EU presidency in 2009. The panel was composed
of Jan Kahout, Czech Ambassador to the EU, and Dr. Tanja Miscevic,
Director of the Serbian government's Office for Association with the
EU. The discussion was attended by representatives of different
embassies, Serbia's foreign ministry officials and citizens.


2. (U) On the heels of the formation of a new Serbian government,
Miscevic said that the most important thing for Serbia at this
moment is to revive the process of European integration in order to
obtain the status of EU member candidate by the end of 2008 (a
relatively new target date most recently espoused by President
Tadic). She added that while it is technically possible to obtain
this EU status, clear political will must also exist. To this end,
she announced that her office will submit "very soon" a list of
priority laws that must be passed to get Serbia back on the
accession track after losing six months to elections and government
formation negotiations that had stagnated progress.


3. (U) Following Miscevic's remarks, Kahout presented the Czech
government's proposed Balkan agenda. He affirmed that the Czech
Republic supports the EU's "open door" approach to potential new
members, expressing hope that Serbia will have made great strides
forward in its association with EU when his country takes over the
EU Presidency at the beginning of 2009. Outlining the Czech
Republic's priorities, Kahout said the first will be to develop and
increase the competency of candidates for membership in the EU. The
candidate countries, he said, must be organized and efficient in
fulfilling the standards required by the EU. The EU, meanwhile,
needs to face up to its own shortcomings, such as the free movement
of the labor force, the treatment of other countries' citizens, the
liberalization of the market when other countries have protective
policies, and must above all clarify its approach to enlargement.
The second priority will stress discussions on the EU budgetary
allocation for agriculture - Kahout highlighted that this year's
budget for agriculture is lower than in previous years. The third
priority will be to increase the security of member states and
protect the state order of the EU, and the final priority is
institutional reform. Kahout said the Czech Embassy in Belgrade
will have an energetic agenda of touring the country and
communicating with NGOs and the Serbian people about the EU and
European integration process in an effort to educate and build
support for needed reforms.


4. (U) Comment: The Czechs have been first out of the gate among
European neighbors in trying to refocus Serbian energy on the
future, and particularly on a Euro-Atlantic future. Miscevic's
statements were equally hopeful, showing a commitment - at least at
a technical level - to start getting the government working on
long-delayed legislation needed to get closer to Europe. This
represents a good initial sign from the new government, and we will
continue to engage with the right ministries to try to maintain this
forward-looking, and westward-looking, focus.

POLT