In a full hall of the Faculty of Political Science on Monday, January 24, Center for European Studies organized a round table discussion entitled "The European path of the Western Balkans: obstacles and challenges". In front of numerous students and university professors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Croatian ministries, journalists and agencies that deal with the European Union spoke Dr Vesna Pusić, President of the National Committee for Monitoring Negotiations with the European Union, Neven Mimica, MSc, Chairman of the European Integration Committee of the Croatian Parliament, Andrej Plenković, MSc, State Secretary for European Integration, Budimir Lončar, President of the Council for Foreign Policy and International Relations of the President of Republic of Croatia and Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, as a special guest lecturer.
This panel discussion was organized by the Center for European Studies (CES), which operates within the Faculty of Political Science and as the first academic "think tank" is focused on political and politological science research of the European Union and the Europeanization of Croatia.

In the opening statement of Dr Damir Grubiša, head of the Center and the moderator of the round table, what was highlighted was the importance of the CES as part of the Faculty of Political Science which encourages the discussion about the European Union and the process of Europeanization of Croatia and its citizens as the main function of the university community. Welcoming the crowd, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science Dr Nenad Zakošek expressed satisfaction with the crowded hall, attributing it to the fact that relevant actors, who with their extensive experience and knowledge can contribute to a better understanding of the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to participate as soon as possible in European integration processes, assembled in one place.

Wolfgang Petritsch, the main EU Chief Negotiator at the Kosovo Peace Agreement (1999) and High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999-2002) pointed out that despite the global economic crisis that engulfed Europe the most, the EU accession process was still attractive to the Western Balkan countries. On the world stage, there is a new institutional architecture in which the G20 countries have the main role with an emphasis on progressive growth of China. The economic crisis has caused the crisis of the European currency, which is one of the key factors for complete integration of the European area. Another problem of the European Union are non-integrated countries of Southeastern Europe, marked by prejudices about the Balkans, and that are likely not to be integrated into the EU soon, but so far for them it is important to cooperate, which is still not easy, given that the Western Balkan countries crossed a long way to overcome the instability after decades of wars and internal conflicts of the 1990s.

Ambassador Petritsch mentioned the burning issues in the region; from Kosovo and the Macedonian-Greek name dispute to the troubled situation in Albania. The European Union must assume a proactive role in resolving the Kosovo conflict, resolving the crisis in Bosnia and possible escalation of the conflict between Albanians and Macedonians. He says that those conflicts extremely damage the reputation of the Western Balkans in Europe. One of the steps that the EU should take on the Western Balkans is to show clearly the benefits of the EU accession, particularly to the citizens of the region. Ambassador Petritsch also commented on the past achievements of the EU in the region, noting the recent visa liberalization for the Schengen area to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania. The European perspective that they have is the best instrument of further consolidation of regional stability and security in the interest of the entire Europe. Continuous intensive involvement of the European Union will help the region to resolve the remaining issues like Kosovo and the future status of Serbia and Montenegro. At the end of his speech, Dr Petritsch said that citizens themselves needed to understand the benefits of the reforms implemented under the EU integration.

Pusić: From semi-democracy to consolidated government with the help of EU

After Petritsch, the President of the National Committee for Monitoring the Accession Negotiations with the EU, Dr Vesna Pusić, got the floor. Her presentation began with an anecdote about a British diplomat, normally eurosceptic, who was in a meeting with the Committee and said that the EU gradually loses its role becoming a burden for the Member States and is on the verge of disintegration. "Response of Croatian members was a wish for the Croatian accession to the EU notwithstanding and then will happen what has to happen", said Dr Pusić.

The European Union, according to Professor Pusić, is the largest political invention of our time and still achieves its primary goal - peace and prosperity. Croatia is the first post-war country that joins the EU and shares the most similarities with EU countries. Precisely because of the experience of war, Croatia understands the importance of stability and peace. She stressed that political stability is the key and the main reason for Croatian efforts for faster entry. She sees some particular advantages in the economic field because of the size of the market in which they invest. Croatia, with all the problems, has used the accession process well and thus provided some quality foundation for full consolidation, although there’s still a lot of work ahead to close the remaining chapters. She pointed out the Croatian progress in the last ten years from barely visible democracy to the consolidated country. She emphasized the merit of people from the Prime Minister Račan's team for the opening of accession negotiations.

"Croatian experience can certainly help the countries of the region because of institutional, historical and political similarities", noted Professor Pusić. Croatian EU membership will be a proof to the countries of the region that the integration into the Union is feasible. She did not miss pointing out the fact of numerous myths entrenched among Croatian citizens; how they have the most beautiful and cleanest country in the world. This was opposed with the fact that Croatia has yet to satisfy the European standards; by 2018 they need to reach standards of drinking water cleanliness, and no later than 2019 to develop and integrate the system of waste disposal. "So the EU will not steal our water, land and air; entry into the EU will allow the achievement of standards set by the Member States." said Professor Pusić. In the end she highlighted positive changes in administration, judiciary system and the fight against corruption.

Mimica: The region lacks the political compromise, and the EU lacks the enlargement commitment

Chairman of the European Integration Committee of the Croatian Parliament, Neven Mimica, MSc, said that Croatian accession to the European Union would become the motive and incentive to the countries in the region. Mimica recalled the promises the European Community gave to the countries on the "wrong" side of the Berlin Wall in the 1980-ies; the promise that they would too become integrated into the Union one day. In the region, he says, Croatia has the largest political capacity and is the only one that reached a political compromise among political parties about joining the EU, and therefore it will be the first member of the Union. He also commented on the goals that the region had in 2010; on development of the dialogue between Priština and Belgrade, Montenegro and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, then on the relations between the European Union regarding the issue of Macedonia and Albania, and abolition of visas for entry into the areas of the European Union.

As the main disadvantage of the EU Mimica indicated the political irresponsibility. "We need more political commitment from the EU to make all countries in the region EU members by 2018." said Mimica calling for renewal of the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003 when the Western Balkans’ countries and the EU committed themselves to intensive cooperation that was to end with the full membership. State Secretary for European Integration at the MFAEI, Andrej Plenković, MSc, claimed the neighbor's accession to the EU and a commitment to stability in the region were a priority. Although there are differences among the Western Balkan countries, they can join the European integration process only with the joint efforts, said the State Secretary Plenković.

Budimir Lončar, the President of the Council for Foreign Policy and International Relations of the President of Republic of Croatia, as the last lecturer said that we could achieve the prosperity of the region only through the rule of law, overcoming of the horrors of the war through mutual trust and cooperation and through access to EU and NATO.

Eurozone, the Croats in Bosnia and how to "sell" the EU

The questions of journalists and the majority of students were addressed to the Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, including the question if the EU saw Croatia as a member of the eurozone. Ambassador Petritsch has warned that even after Croatia’s entry into the EU it will take a lot of time to coordinate economic and monetary policies and to even begin thinking about joining the eurozone. One of the questions referred to the problem of Croats in Bosnia, which Petritsch answered explaining that the problem lay not only in the debatable Dayton Agreement but also in the Washington Agreement, signed only a year earlier. “There is no simple solution to this problem, but the Croatian role in solving it is more than important. This is another reason for Croatian accession to the EU because then it will have much greater influence and power to change the current status of Croats in this country", stated Petritsch.

One of the questions that was asked to the speakers, is this: how to “sell” the idea of the European Union to the citizens of Croatia and beyond, who are struggling daily with high levels of corruption and unemployment? Ambassador Petritsch emphasized that the most attractive advantage of the European Union is the political, economic and social stability. Speaking about the transparency of the negotiation process and closed chapters State Secretary Plenković said that it was normal not to talk publicly about the chapters in order to allow some flexibility to the negotiators and that only upon completion of negotiations it would become clear what was negotiated, to which Professor Pusić opposed saying the closed chapters should be made known to the Croatian public. Regarding the priorities of the Croatian policy in the EU, Professor Pusić stressed that they should follow the priorities that EU funds emphasized.

At the end of this 2-hour round table discussion, head of the CES, Professor Grubiša, invited participants to the next meeting in April i.e. planned gathering of students and professors who deal with European studies in the Western Balkan countries.