BRUSSELS 10-11 & 13-14 Sep 2010 European Union ministers convene

The foreign ministers of the European Union meet informally on Sep 10-11 to prepare for their formal foreign affairs/general affairs meeting on Sep 13-14. In her new role as EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton will preside. With the most taxing of the Lisbon Treaty decisions behind them, ministers can return to issues such as enlargement of the bloc. Serbia could get an invitation to join the European Union because it recently lost a case in the International Court of Justice.

Ashton heads the European External Action Service, which comes into being on 1 Jan 2011. The General Affairs Council adopted the decision establishing the EEAS on 26 Jul 2010 in an effort to ensure greater coordination and consistency in EU foreign policy.

Belgrade, which regards Kosovo as a Serbian province, challenged Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. On 22 Jul, the IJC ruled that Kosovo had not violated international law by declaring independence. Though Ashton scoffs at the idea that any invitation to Serbia to join the European Union represents compensation for the bloc's recognition of Kosovo's independence, some observers see a quid pro quo. A number of EU countries are reported to favor speeding up Serbia's EU accession process in the wake of Belgrade's IJC loss over Kosovo. Yet accession might not be fast: it is likely to be contingent of Serbia handing over Ratko Mladic, a Serb, the No. 1 fugitive now at large from the Yugoslav wars and the accused architect of the Srebrenica massacre in Jul 1995.

However slow the process, Serbia's accession is likely to be faster than Turkey's. Ankara started accession negotiations with the EU in 2005, but not even half of the 35 negotiating chapters have been opened, partly because of resistance within the bloc to the membership of the Islamic country. Zagreb, meanwhile, is expected to conclude talks in 2011.

Iceland could also beat Turkey to accession, despite difficult issues in the negotiations and Icelanders' reported new lack of enthusiasm for the bloc. The issues include fishing rights and Iceland's traditional whale hunting. EU foreign ministers gave the green light at their last meeting, in July, for the start of negotiations on Iceland's membership bid.

Zagreb is expected to conclude talks in 2011. (Last update Jul 2010)

RELATED READING:

Serbia Sees Investment, EU Aid Flows Continuing After UN Setback on Kosovo (27 Jul 2010)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-27/serbia-sees-investment-eu-aid-flows-continuing-after-un-setback-on-kosovo.html

Iceland starts EU talks while Turkey's bid remains on ice (Euractiv 28 Jul 2010)
http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/iceland-starts-eu-talks-while-turkeys-bid-remains-ice-news-496730

Iceland membership talks formally begin Tuesday (EU Observer 26 Jul 2010)
http://euobserver.com/9/30539/?rk=1