VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #0747 1501056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301056Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0906
INFO RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0056
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000747 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SR
SUBJECT: CZECHS PREVIEW 2009 PRESIDENCY AGENDA FOR BALKANS 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  The Czech Embassy hosted on May 17, 2007 in Belgrade a 
discussion panel on the program priorities of the Czech Republic 
when it assumes the EU presidency in 2009.  The panel was composed 
of Jan Kahout, Czech Ambassador to the EU, and Dr. Tanja Miscevic, 
Director of the Serbian government's Office for Association with the 
EU.  The discussion was attended by representatives of different 
embassies, Serbia's foreign ministry officials and citizens. 
 
¶2.  (U)  On the heels of the formation of a new Serbian government, 
Miscevic said that the most important thing for Serbia at this 
moment is to revive the process of European integration in order to 
obtain the status of EU member candidate by the end of 2008 (a 
relatively new target date most recently espoused by President 
Tadic).  She added that while it is technically possible to obtain 
this EU status, clear political will must also exist.  To this end, 
she announced that her office will submit "very soon" a list of 
priority laws that must be passed to get Serbia back on the 
accession track after losing six months to elections and government 
formation negotiations that had stagnated progress. 
 
¶3.  (U)  Following Miscevic's remarks, Kahout presented the Czech 
government's proposed Balkan agenda.  He affirmed that the Czech 
Republic supports the EU's "open door" approach to potential new 
members, expressing hope that Serbia will have made great strides 
forward in its association with EU when his country takes over the 
EU Presidency at the beginning of 2009.  Outlining the Czech 
Republic's priorities, Kahout said the first will be to develop and 
increase the competency of candidates for membership in the EU.  The 
candidate countries, he said, must be organized and efficient in 
fulfilling the standards required by the EU.  The EU, meanwhile, 
needs to face up to its own shortcomings, such as the free movement 
of the labor force, the treatment of other countries' citizens, the 
liberalization of the market when other countries have protective 
policies, and must above all clarify its approach to enlargement. 
The second priority will stress discussions on the EU budgetary 
allocation for agriculture - Kahout highlighted that this year's 
budget for agriculture is lower than in previous years.  The third 
priority will be to increase the security of member states and 
protect the state order of the EU, and the final priority is 
institutional reform.  Kahout said the Czech Embassy in Belgrade 
will have an energetic agenda of touring the country and 
communicating with NGOs and the Serbian people about the EU and 
European integration process in an effort to educate and build 
support for needed reforms. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Comment:  The Czechs have been first out of the gate among 
European neighbors in trying to refocus Serbian energy on the 
future, and particularly on a Euro-Atlantic future.  Miscevic's 
statements were equally hopeful, showing a commitment - at least at 
a technical level - to start getting the government working on 
long-delayed legislation needed to get closer to Europe.  This 
represents a good initial sign from the new government, and we will 
continue to engage with the right ministries to try to maintain this 
forward-looking, and westward-looking, focus. 
 
POLT