The Prevlaka border dispute between Montenegro and Croatia should belong in the domain of bilateral relations and as such would send a strong message to the European Union (EU), former Croatia’s prime minister, Jadranka Kosor, told in an interview with Pobjeda daily. She also noted that only an agreement could lead to the solution or a model for finding it.
As somebody who was conducting extensive Croatian negotiations for the EU membership from 2009 to 2011, Ms Kosor stressed that Europe’s policy towards the new member states hasn’t significantly changed when compared to the previous years.
Speaking about the EU perspective, she estimated that the future of the EU will depend on the outcomes of the existing elections for the European Parliament and Brexit as well.
During the interview, Ms Kosor also reflected on the position of the Western Balkans in the EU: “It does not depend only on willingness and interest of the EU, but a genuine will of the candidate countries that have been in different phases of meeting the EU accession criteria. The so-called old EU member states won’t put a significant effort in the enlargement as the question is whether we’re about to face a new recession and economic issues.”
When asked whether she thinks the Western Balkan countries are capable of dealing with all new EU requirements, Ms. Kosor told: “There’s certain willingness but every country has its own story. The politicians are the ones who must work for the good of society and not for themselves and their own publicity.”
Out of the total of 32, Montenegro has opened 31 negotiation chapters so far. The EU still claims MNE will have to wait until 2025 to become a full EU member state.
“I know it’s hard. I know it from our own experience that the citizens are losing their will and desire, but the politicians are the ones responsible for their countries. They represent them and have to put an extra effort in their work even for the EU, the European Commission, if they truly wish to be part of the EU. There’s no better perspective than the EU integration. This is my opinion and my experience,” Ms Kosor added.
As for the open issue between Montenegro and Croatia, that is, the Prevlaka border dispute, she said: “It would be good if the two countries could resolve this issue in the domain of bilateral relations. This would send a strong message to the EU as was the case when I and Mr Borut Pahor agreed on resolving border dispute through the Arbitration Agreement. That’s why it’s important to intensify talks on open issues,” she noted.
