Another criticism for Croatia’s decision to block Serbia’s EU accession negotiations.
The status of the Croatian minority in Serbia can be solved by bilateral talks between Croatia and Serbia, as well as during negotiations on Serbia’s accession to the European Union, so there is no need for blocking and slowing down the negotiating process between Belgrade and Brussels, said Josip Juratović, a member of the German Bundestag, in an interview on Monday, reports Večernji List on April 25, 2016.
Commenting on the Croatia’s decision to condition the opening of new negotiation chapters between Serbia and the European Union, Juratović said that talks should be a solution to all problems. “There is obviously a misunderstanding between Croatia and Serbia in connection with the opening of Chapters 23 and 24 relating to justice and human rights. Croatia wants Serbia to harmonize its legislation and demands greater rights of Croats in Serbia and greater security for Croatian citizens in the Republic of Serbia. However, these are issues that can be resolved bilaterally and much faster if the accession negotiations are opened. I am confident that the Croatian government, bearing in mind the interests of its citizens, will soon realize that any kind of blockage would be counterproductive for them as well”, said Juratović.
Juratović added that Croatia, as an EU member state, is expected to be “an example and a constructive partner” in relation to the possible enlargement to the Western Balkan countries, but pointed out that Serbia should also “try harder” to build mutual trust in the region.
He said that it was in the direct interest of Croatia to engage in the progress of the negotiations of the countries of the Western Balkans. “After all, the further development of Croatia depends on the accession of the region into the EU”, said Juratović.
Speaking about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the German MP assessed that the political elites have been playing political games for many years, while the country sinks into a deepening crisis. “While they are having a nice time entertaining themselves, more and more people are leaving the country, because no one has the patience for a country which they have started calling Absurdistan”, said Juratović.
