Opponent of Catalan independence as EU's top diplomat reassures Serbia
The former head of the Spanish Foreign Ministry, Josep Borrell, who recently took over the post of head of the EU foreign policy department, intends to visit Serbia in the near future, as well as the separatist-occupied region of Kosovo.
“Madrid's views will not affect my work as I am no longer Spanish Foreign Minister. The fact is that Spain has not recognized Kosovo and has no chance of doing so,” Borrell emphasized in an interview with Spanish Pais.
He added that the prospect of EU membership should not be closed to the former republics of Yugoslavia, but Borrell could not give clear dates for accession. “From an ethical point of view, it is impossible to tell the countries of the former Yugoslavia that they have lost the prospect of Europe,” the diplomat said.
Whatever Borrell publicly assures, Spain’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence will undoubtedly reflect the approach of the new head of EU diplomacy to the Serbian-Albanian problem, predicts Belgrade-based political scientist Aleksandar Pavic.
“Unlike diplomats coming from countries that have recognized the false state, Borrell is unlikely to be able to put strong pressure on Serbia to recognize the false state. As for his message that he does not know when the Western Balkan countries might join the EU, this is the most he can say, given that the enlargement process has been completely stopped. This is also a clear signal that Serbia should not be hostage to internal tensions in the EU and be forever in someone else’s lobby,” Pavic said.
Historian and analyst Nemanja Starovic agrees with him.
“As a veteran of Spanish politics, he will certainly not jeopardize the vital interests of Madrid. It can be expected that if the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina continues, the European Foreign Service will be neutral in status,” the expert said in an interview with Informer.
“I am sure that Borrell has an opinion about the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, evidenced by the fact that Spain opposes the admission of Pristina to international institutions, but it will strive to resume dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Regarding EU enlargement, there is no optimism until relations between member states are strengthened,” argues Milisav Pajč, President of the Serbian Foreign Policy Society.
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