Serbia, Srbija!: March 2011

Monday 14 March 2011

Serbian deputy Prime Minister mulls Hong-Kong model for Kosovo-news

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbian-deputy-pm-mulls-hong-kong-model-kosovo-news-502936

Serbia hopes to be ready to join the European Union by the end of 2015, but first a "creative" solution will have to be found for its former province Kosovo, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic told EurActiv Germany in an exclusive interview. He cited the "Hong Kong model" as one way of resolving the issue.

Sunday 6 March 2011

Serbia to sign agreement on participating in EU missions

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-sign-agreement-participating-eu-missions-news-502353

BACKGROUND

Serbia has been participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme since 2006. The programme, launched in 1994, envisages bilateral cooperation between NATO and the countries which participate in it. It is oriented towards practical forms of cooperation in which countries opt for activities that are in keeping with their own priorities.

On 27 December 2007, Serbia adopted a resolution on protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order, a statement which referred to Kosovo. One article of the resolution determines the military neutrality of Serbia "regarding existing military alliances, until the possible scheduling of a referendum for a final decision on this issue".

Tanja Miščević was a member of Serbia’s negotiating team for drawing up a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, and she was head of the negotiating team for an agreement on readmission and visa liberalisation between Serbia and the EU.

Miščević also works with the European Movement in Serbia, the most significant non-governmental organisation in the field of European integration.

Macedonia hold referendum on new name

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/macedonia-hold-referendum-new-name-news-502593

Commission issues challenging to-do list for Croatia

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/commission-issues-challenging-list-croatia-news-502724

BACKGROUND

Croatia has been an EU candidate country since June 2004 and began accession negotiations in October 2005. Currently 28 of 35 negotiation chapters are closed. Chapter 23 on the 'judiciary and fundamental rights' is expected to be the most difficult.

Other open chapters include regional policy, fisheries, competition and agriculture, as well as two technical chapters (budget and 'other issues') which must be closed last. Progress is expected on the non-technical chapters, which may be closed as early as April.

In 16 February the European Parliament voted massively by 584 votes to 43 in favour of a resolution congratulating Croatia for "substantial progress," stating that negotiations "can be completed in the first half of 2011 provided that the necessary reforms continue to be pursued resolutely".

Simultaneously, a coalition of Croatian NGOs including Transparency International Croatia issued a joint statement on Chapter 23 warning that for "some crucial benchmarks" there was "a lack of evidence of sincere political will" on the part of the Croatian government.

"Nights for Europe"

Since the end of September until December 2010, Barbara, Guillaume, Veronika and I, doing our EVS at the same moment at Generator, have organised the so-called Nights for Europe, formed by 8 sessions every Wednesday, treating about European issues: The EU-an overview; History of Europe; The EU functioning and its institutions; Youth in Europe; Slovakian night, French night; Portuguese night and Serbian night. This project can be considered as a successful one. In fact, we managed to considerably increase the number of participants from the first night (8 young participants) to the last nights (more or less20 people).

These nights were usually 2 hours long and were composed of Power-point presentations, interactive and educational games and movies.

Among the most interesting nights were the ones where each of the nationalities represented (Serbs, French, Portuguese and Slovakian) made a presentation of their own countries. For the first time in 6 months, I was able to actually show something about my culture and my country, even if it was in a narrow manner.

Moreover, the young Serbian participants shared with us a bit more about the country which had been hosting me for the last 6/7 months.

It was undoubtedly a very positive experience which, I hope, will be repeated in the future!