ZAGREB, September 11, 2018 – Slovenian President Borut Pahor said on Monday the European Commission’s decision not to interfere in the Croatian-Slovenian border arbitration dispute sent a negative message to Western Balkan countries wishing to join the European Union.
In March, Slovenia wrote to the Commission with a proposal to sue Croatia for failing to apply a border arbitration ruling. In June, the Commission decided not to take a position on Slovenia’s assertion that Croatia, by failing to apply the ruling, is in breach of EU law, saying the two member states should find a solution in the spirit of friendship.
Speaking at the Bled Strategic Forum, Pahor said the Commission, with its position on the arbitral tribunal’s ruling, did not realise that it was sending a negative message to the Western Balkan countries which had to resolve numerous bilateral issues before joining the EU. “Why would states reach bilateral agreements on outstanding issues if they don’t have to honour them?” he said.
Pahor went on to say that the EU was at a standstill which would turn into regression, due to an increasing return to national policies, unless those in favour of strengthening the EU came up with a clear vision of the future. Such a weakened EU would not be able to enlarge to the Western Balkans, he added.
