„THE CHALLENGES OF

ACHIEVING EU

CANDIDATE

STATUS“

Sarajevo, 2011

Page | 2

„THE CHALLENGES OF ACHIEVING

EU CANDIDATE STATUS“

Page | 3

Partners of the final event:

„THE CHALLENGES OF ACHIEVING EU CANDIDATE STATUS“

Editors and „Time for Plan B-alkans“ group members:

Rezarta Chausaj (Albania)

Sonja Delova (Macedonia)

Dajana Džindo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Cristian Gherasim (Romania)

Žarko Petrović (Montenegro)

Irma Zulić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Year of pubication:

2012.

Author of the cover photograph: Bojan Elek

The photograph was acquired with the author's permission. It is one

out of two winning photographs in the competition: „How can the EU

do better in the Balkans“, organized by our partnering group

(also a participant of the Southeast Europe and the EU –

Leadership Development Programme 2011).

The author finds that the EU can do better in the region, by giving a

„green light“ to reassure that the Balkan countries are moving in the

right direction of becoming EU Member States.

In this publication authors of 10 best essays, think that in order to

reach the green light, there are many challenges which these

countries need to overcome.

Page | 4

CONTENTS:

1. Introduction ................................................................ 5

1.1. „Time for Plan B-alkans“ and LDP 2011 .......... 5

2. About the Project ........................................................ 6

3. Essay of Anja Lejli Hessarbani (BIH) ......................... 7

4. Essay of Neven Obradović (SRB) ………………….... 10

5. Essay of Nenad Kovačević (SRB) …………………… 13

6. Essay of Anton Jurovicki (MNE) ….………………….. 16

7. Essay of Dino Pešut (CRO) …………………….…….. 19

8. Essay of Ana Kristijan (SER) …………………………. 22

9. Essay of Ena Peeva (MKD) ……….………………….. 25

10. Essay of Anastazija Dimitrova (MKD) ….…………... 28

11. Essay of Aleda Kushta (ALB) ................................... 30

12. Essay of Arber Selmani (KOS) ……………………... 33

Time for Plan B-alkans …...……………………………… 36

Page | 5

1. Introduction

1.1. „Time for Plan B-alkans“ and LDP 2011

This publication is one of the project activities of the project called

“Time for Plan B-alkans”.

The members of this project group are LDP 2011 fellows. The

Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development

Programme is organized jointly by the European Fund for the

Balkans, the College of Europe and the TRANSFUSE

Association. The Programme aims to transmit knowledge about

the EU and its relation to the SEE, to stimulate the leadership and

professional skills of participants and to encourage an exchange

of views of young people who aspire to play an active role in the

future of their countries.

The 2011/2012 Programme consists of the following activities:

Two-week Summer Academy in Austria and Slovakia in

September 2011

Group projects

Spring Seminar in Belgium (Brussels/Bruges), in April

2012

Page | 6

2. About the project

The main aim of this project is to raise awareness by creating a

platform for the debate on the challenges of achieving EU

candidate status for the countries of Western Balkans. The target

groups are students from 18-25 years old and from countries in

the region. Other beneficiaries, such as politicians, business

sector, academics, professors, NGOs and media, will also be

included in the project.

The project is implemented in three phases:

1. Short essays competition on the topic of “The challenges of

achieving EU candidate status in my country”;

2. Issuing a publication with best 10 short essays;

3. Organization of a debate, where two best essays will be

presented and the participants will have the opportunity to

discuss on the mentioned topic.

The name of the project is also related to the SEE countries.

Each country faces the challenges and fulfils the conditions for

candidacy in the EU, on its own. In our opinion, “Plan B” is that if

the neighboring countries help and support each other in

achieving the same goal, all of them will reach it faster.

In this publication are the 10 best essays of our Essay

Competition.

More info about the project can be found on the website:

www.tiny.cc/planbalkans

Page | 7

Anja Lejli Hessarbani

...is a student of Political Science and Diplomacy in Sarajevo.

Anja worked as an intern in Transparency International B&H, and Embassies of BIH

in Vienna and Athens.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s challenge is to act as one, homogenous state and not as divided communities.

My country is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though many did not hear about it, it is small and beautiful country centered in the heart of Europe with approximately 4 million people on the area of 51, 197 km2. However, this small country was marked with a turbulent history (1992-1995). This country has very complex political structure which is the result of Dayton Peace Agreement that played a big role in the establishing peace at that time.

Complexity of the political system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reflected in two entities plus Brcko District, 10 cantons, 3 presidents and numerous dysfunctional bureaucracies.

From the above briefly mentioned facts one can see that one of the biggest challenges of Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a part of EU is its constitution that is incompatible with the EU. Moreover, the will of political leaders is also one of the crucial elements in the process in itself. Some political leaders enjoying the positions they occupy, using various tools, such as media, make even more divisions in this society.

Page | 8

Moreover, in the constitution of the Bosnia and Herzegovina it is said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a secular state, but it seems that it is far from that, taking into account that religious leaders give their opinion on the questions that are political and get involved in every aspect of current politics which makes such complicated system even more complicated. Some fundamental human rights are violated by its constitution, as the inclusion of the minority representatives in politics and its institutions. Bosnia and Herzegovina‟s challenge is to act as one, homogenous state and not as divided communities. This can only be reached by the change of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the change of the constitution, which can be easily reached if we only regarded them by the “Living tree approach”

1, but that will not be possible

because of the lack of the political will.

To be able to be an active member of EU, it is also need to have the economic conditions for that. It is necessary to raise the living standards in order to be able to cope with the standards established by the EU. Because in a country, with its 27, 6% people unemployed (even though it is considered that this number is even higher), 48% of the people live on the margins of existence, and the others with the retirements and salaries that are the lowest in the region, will give the headache to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina placing their existence into the question, but also to the EU. Together with this is the fact that aids, donations and other programs designed for and targeted at this group of people have to be more effectively applied and monitored in order to improve the quality of the people living here, instead of the money distributed on the projects that remain only as dead letter on the paper.

1 Living Tree approach is approach of constitutional interpretation which

claims that constitution is organic and has to be read in a broad and progressive manner so as to adapt it to the changing times.

Page | 9

However, youth and minorities have to be included in order to give them prosperous country for which they will have a vision and wish to improve and not to see this country as the station while waiting the train for another country which raises more global issues concerning this country but also the other.

And last, but not less important challenge is corruption. Why this issue? Because if you manage to reduce it, many other questions will be solved. All state institutions need a revision of the budget spent and people employed, because many people still working in these institutions got the job illegally, or it is time for them to get retired which would open the positions for the younger people and more effective ones. The bureaucracy has to be reaching the minimum level and to be composed of the small, accurate people, well educated that will know to do their job more effectively by which money and time will be saved. Corruption is also reflected in the media, infrastructure, medicine, politics and many other aspects. Corruption in these segments is also high which prevents this country to get improved.

However, this country has a good chance to be a candidate country of the EU, only if there is will for that and hard work to confront and overcome above mentioned challenges.

Page | 10

Neven Obradović

...is a student of journalism master

studies in Niš, Sebia. In addition, Neven

works as a teaching assistant on the

subjects: Investigative journalism and

Agency journalism

When speaking about Serbia, corruption is the systematical

problem of the society, or better said it’s a way of life.

Serbia probably has one of the greatest challenges of all the

countries in the region in getting the membership in the EU.

Politicians both from EU and Serbia and the media label Kosovo

as the biggest challenge. The unsolved problem of Kosovo surely

is the major problem for many reasons which are familiar to

everybody; however, the government is putting that problem on

top of its agenda, and putting the rest of the challenges, which

are equally important for getting a full membership, to the bottom.

Those problems are concerning simple man and the

normalization of life in the Balkans. In order to even think of

joining the community of European nations corruption,

unemployment, education are definitely fields that crave for

changes in Serbia.

When speaking about Serbia, corruption is the systematical

problem of the society, or better said it‟s a way of life. The best

Page | 11

way of representing it is the circular example from birth to death.

However, when you are born, your father, should, as if by a rule,

give some “present” to the doctor and nurses in order for them to

take better care of you. If not, they could be rude with your

mother or slightly careless with you. After a couple of interesting

years of growing up comes a new challenge - getting a place in

the kindergarten. There is a shortage of preschool institutions,

and if you are not able to pay for a private one, just in order to get

on the waiting list for a public one, which can count more than 2

000 kids, you should offer a certain amount of money to the

headmaster or an employee just to provide a normal growing up

and socialization, and of course, after getting a place in the

kindergarten there are more things to pay, but let‟s not go into

details. Then comes the elementary school where teachers are

the “target group”.

During high school you get more mature and you learn the rules

of survival in the system. We are witnessing various, even

interesting, ways of bribe and corruption by those who are not

willing to study and in order to get the passing grade often offer

fixing your house, collecting your cherries during the summer

break, mending your car, it all depends which crafts your family

can offer and what your teacher needs.

When it comes to high education, there are exact price lists of the

exams on certain universities which were put by professors and

which are well known by all the students. It‟s simple, like in a fast-

food restaurant, when you open the menu, instead of the meals

there are exams, and in the end you won‟t get a fiscal bill. After

getting a university degree comes a time when a citizen of Serbia

spends a lot of money in the name of corruption. Of course, just

Page | 12

to get in touch with your eventual employer you have to be a

member of a political party, and not just any party but the ruling

one, and in some cases, the opposition can provide a job for its

sympathizers. Having a job and a family you enter the enchanted

circle of corruption which your parents passed in order to get you

out on the right way. After that you get old and ill. Health care is

a system of its own when it comes to corruption. In order to get a

decent treatment and to be sure that the doctors won‟t forget a

scalpel or some other instrument in your body you need to make

things easier. The beginner level is a pack of coffee and a bottle

of juice, intermediate level is a bottle of Scotch or some other

hard liquor, and the advanced level represents an envelope filled

with Euros, a currency of a union that we desperately crave, a

paradox isn‟t it? And at the end of the circle, comes death, and,

since the corruption follows that circular process there were some

cases that after your close relatives died you had to provide a

better place at the graveyard with a “small investment”.

For Serbian authorities elimination of corruption represents

probably the greatest challenge when the membership in the EU

is questioned, but so far the acts showed that they are not

dealing with it seriously and systematically. It all comes down to

the eventual preventive actions which serve for politicians to

show off in front of the cameras instead of showing us the way

out of the dark tunnel of corruption.

Page | 13

Nenad Kovačević

...is a student of Master studies in

Diplomacy and International Relations

in Skopje. Nenad is interested in politics

and has already published two essays in

Macedonia.

In my opinion, two most important challenges that Serbia

faces in achieving EU candidate status, are: (disputed)

status of Kosovo and corruption

The reason why this essay is wrote just couple of hours before

deadline is not because this author is lazy or has spent too much

time thinking about possible challenges for achieving EU

candidate status for Serbia. The simple thing is that prognosis

and analysis regarding result of the meeting of European Council,

which will take place on 9 December, and which will clarify

whether Serbia is, at least in opinion of European Council, ready

for candidacy are changing on daily basis. At the moment,

prospects, both on the round tables in Brussels and on the field,

are not good. European project is in peril, Serbia needs attention

of the European friends, but the times are critical for the very

survival of the Union. Still, with having this is mind, I will deal with,

in my opinion, with two most important challenges that Serbia

faces in achieving EU candidate status.

Page | 14

(Disputed) status of Kosovo

As much we can blame political elites in Serbia for dishonesty

and passivity in EU integration, there must be some

understanding for the difficult situation that current Serbian

government is facing. Without even going into deeper analysis of

history of the conflict, it is more than clear that unresolved status

of territory of Kosovo will be a problem that will heat tensions on

already flammable Balkans. Weak and not unanimous position of

EU, impatient adversaries at the negotiation table, constant

tension on the field, the atmosphere of mistrust, imposition and

extortion without realizing complexity of the situation are not

element that are messenger of good news for Serbia. All actors in

the process must understand that cycles of mistrust and

frustrations in Balkans usually ends with bloodshed and wars.

Still, one must hope that EU, although in crucial times for its very

survival, will show its capacity for export of stability into the region

and, when disputed parties on the ground are now ready, to

define and set into motion new and functional model of

cooperation between two communities, Serbs and Albanians. The

challenge of “Kosovisation” of the region will remain present until

political elites do not realize that negotiation cannot have winners

and losers.

(Miss) using the process of European integration for internal

politics purposes

(Miss) use of process of European integration for internal politics

purposes is not something unfamiliar to Serbia, or other countries

in the region for that matter. Corruption of European idea by

political elites has created several devastating effects namely,

Page | 15

image of EU as “blackmailing bureaucracy machine”, reforms that

are conducted only because Brussels wants so, looking at EU as

political nanny that will punish the country for everything bad that

it does and award for making progress in right direction. This “do

ut des” (Latin for "I give so that you may give") policy is not

helping at all. Nevertheless, of course, EU is not only to blame.

They are acting in that manner only because they have politicians

who are manipulating with uneducated voters about what the

Union is all about. Surely, EU should not involve into the internal

politics, but it must its capacity to raise awareness in NGO sector

and in direct contact with citizens, especially with youth activist

and academics. This is one of the ways to create better

understanding and good environment about realistic and

responsible debate on EU. Unfortunately, it seems that “chasing

the candidacy status” has become more of a prestige intended

only to help political elite in power in their political battle for

winning the elections and therefore, we cannot count on Serbian

political elite to do such a thing.

That is one of the core problems of the EU integration process,

surely not only in Serbia. Country lead in such irresponsible way

is figuratively speaking “bad news”, and it seems that present

Europe cannot cope anymore with bad news, especially not from

(potential) candidate.

Page | 16

Anton Jurovicki

…is a student of Information Systems

and Technology in Podgorica.

Anton is a young entrepreneur.

He owns a number of websites and a

Promotion and Design Agency.

Doing business inside Montenegro can be good in many

ways but if I would like to spread my business, MNE is small

country that can’t offer big profits and international brand.

When it was very oblivious that Montenegro will soon become a

candidate for EU I started thinking about my future. I heard a lot

about EU on my University, from my friends but no one talked

about options I will have when Montenegro becomes part of

European Union.

People only talk how EU will be a great benefit for us because of

the potential of raising the economic standard, better conditions

for living; they don‟t talk how actually all that depends only from

us. EU is a new start and a possible linger for all of those who sit

at home and wait to be called on a job interview or just called to

start working. EU demands competitiveness, constant work and

progress.

Being in EU is a new chance and opportunity for all young people

in Montenegro to prove themselves on the new market, to show

new ideas in an area that is enormous comparing it to

Page | 17

Montenegro. Soon we will live in the county that has 600 million

people! Soon my partner or rival in business will be a student

from France, Germany. We need to cope and realize that

becoming a part of EU is new motivation which has to lift us to

unseen heights! When we sum all impressions EU is one strong

bureaucratic creation that demands many upgrades and

developments of our society so that it can be shoulder to

shoulder with other countries in the EU. For me personally EU is

more than a chance it‟s simply one big area that has place for

me, my ideas, creation, knowledge. Strong laws and regulations

from EU will linger some things, such as starting new business,

minimal wage of an employee, taxes and other.

I guess that the best thing about EU is international expansion of

ideas, products and companies. Our country has to make good

business bases so entrepreneurs can succeed in EU. Doing

business inside Montenegro can be good in many ways but if I

would like to spread my business, MNE is small country that can‟t

offer big profits and international brand. Goal of MNE should also

be to create good encouraging wave of positive thinking towards

EU, so people here can have company that is strong and

competitive in Europe and world because people are afraid of

going global and they are scared of competition which EU will

give us plenty

Montenegro is one of the world's fastest growing tourism markets

but I think it will have to improve a lot, considering that some new

laws will have to apply on it. There are also many other things

that Montenegro will face with, in order to become a good student

of EU. We need to root out corruption, business barriers, make

our government more transparent. We also need to improve our

Page | 18

information system. Recently I read census data and it shows that

almost half of citizens are IT illiterate. This will have to change.

One of future obstacles of our society is definitely this information

illiteracy which is sad, considering that we live in 21. century. We

are living in the digital age where basics of IT are required on

daily basis.

One of the challenges that we will face is “challenges of our own

mind”. People will soon realize that openness and cooperation is

the best method to succeed and that‟s what EU can offer. Better

life is expected in one way or another, only it will take

some time for things to stabilize and fortify so things and life

generally can move positive during the merger process with

the other members of the European Union.

EU will offer riddance of business barriers especially when it

comes to pushing products internationally. It

is obvious that entering EU will contribute to society, individuals,

businesses and that it will contribute to overall development of

Montenegro.

I know that leaders of my county are opt to every challenge and

that all tasks or requirements that are needed from Montenegro

will be done in satisfying way. I‟m sure our path towards EU will

be pawed with excellence and determination.

Page | 19

Dino Pešut

…is a student of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb.

Dino is an artistic soul and has been actively

involved in contemporary dance, acting

and producing. Currently, Dino is living in

Ljubljana as a Basileus scholar.

Not long after approval for acceptance in the EU, in Croatia

happened a big incident during a gay pride in Split and still

no legal action nor political will has been showed.

Croatia will most probably enter the European Union in the next

12 months and my possible grant for Erasmus Mundus in

performing arts will drop more than 50 percent enabling me a

semi- decent life in France or Belgium. The obvious paradox of

acceptance and exclusion in the apparatus of the European

Union. The paradox of the end of one and beginning of the other

struggle connected to the European Union.

Hence, I would like to propose certain points which clarify this

paradoxical situations and somewhat schizophrenic messages

send by European union towards Croatia as it is the first country

(sans Slovenia) which will enter. There are two aspects pointing

each other. On one side, we have European Union as a

permutation of the European economical alliance. Without doubt,

a strong political initial context is the most obvious while

preparing for the entrance. Each country, without doubt has to be

prepared, not only to become similar as well to be able to

integrate in the new economical machine. On the other hand,

Page | 20

there is a concept of United Europe which constructs of collective

symbolic values nurtured within the walls of the boarders of

European Union.

Hence, as we might see recently, economy is neither a

possession nor value. It transformed in highly sophisticated

system which operates alone and in between global activities.

Obviously, the values Europe gathers is the one based on

thousands of years of philosophical thought and mistakes, or

better to say catastrophic, from which we all should been

learning. Those values, although may be considered ideological

is the edge of modernity.

The struggle for the candidate is therefore not only in the

economical as it is in ideological as well. The Balkan countries

still have not figured out how to deal with blame of the history, nor

had it been able to rethink its complexes regarding to it. History is

still treated as a populist political campaign and strong ideology is

somewhat felt. What is candidate to do? It is certain that the

standard will always be lower, but those things which might be

changed are not. Let me issue the question of human rights. Here

is the obvious contradiction which happened in Croatia. Not long

after approval for acceptance in the EU, in Croatia happened a

big incident during a gay pride in Split and still no legal action nor

political will has been showed. More recently, even the left option

said it will not approve further steps toward LGBTQ rights.

Although it is just one of the possible problems, it occurs to me as

paradigmatic evidence of those messages sent from the inside.

Without doubt, my generation is the one who will carry those

values given to us. My generation is the one who will embrace

Page | 21

United Europe and we have done some share. With boyfriends in

Paris, best friends in London, colleagues in Prague, with internet

connection, with concerts of Bon Iver in Vienna... But still, it is for

privileged children, often from the upper middle class, educated

and from liberal households. The ideological apparatus is strong

here. I would like to argue Athusser and induct the triangle

church-family-school as the representatives of populist neo-90s

ideologies which of course have risen hence the recession.

Will the few of us be able to spread the word?

In conclusion, I would like to propose a plea to let us in as we

described above are your target. You should re-read Hannah

Arendt, re-think the new philosophers and re-approach Susan

Sontag. You should let us in, give us opportunities and show us.

We have not been able to travel the Europe while eighteen. Our

families are poorer than yours and we carry the blame of not

completely understanding our own history.

In conclusion, as I wait for my Easy jet to go to Paris, to feel, to

dream of my experience, I hope our voices will be heard and

welcomed and in some years maybe paid, not necessary only in

money, but more importantly in exchanging values.

Page | 22

Ana Kristijan

…is a student of Law in Novi Sad.

Ana‟s main fields of interest are

international relations, with a focus on the

European Union, human rights and

economics development.

The European Union is not about satisfying the requirements

of fellow member states while oppressing one’s own people.

The challenges Serbia faces on its way to the European Union

are – like in the case of any former EU candidate who is a

member now – numberless. Nevertheless, as I see it, there is one

fundamental problem: Serbia is not pursuing E.U.R.O.P.E.

Haven‟t heard about this buzzword yet? E.U.R.O.P.E. is an

ideology that highlights the milestones along the path towards the

European Union. Look how it works:

E : economic development. If a country seeks to integrate into an

economic entity, it will need to adjust the objectives of its

economic policy to the goals of the community, and it will need to

harmonize its economic cycles with those of the members of the

community. Serbia, being a small and open export-oriented

economy, should pay special attention to its trade relations, the

progressive development of its economy including financial

stability, high rates of employment and an effective reduction of

poverty, and R&D among other investments.

Page | 23

U : unity of the nation. Becoming a member of the European

Union should be the reflection of the will of the overwhelming

majority of the nation of Serbia. Not a single citizen should feel

deprived of her/his possibilities and rights by the process.

Therefore, decision makers in Serbia shall take full advantage of

the opportunities provided by the European integration, and

should advocate it in a way that makes the nation stand behind

the idea as a unity.

R : respect towards all people(s) and their rights. The European

Union is not about satisfying the requirements of fellow member

states while oppressing one‟s own people. On the contrary: first

the rights of citizens should be guaranteed, and then, after having

set up a solid system that represents the rights of the population

can the domestic structure of the country be „interconnected‟ to

other states. In Serbia where the mixed population is a potential

and a challenge at the same time, this issue needs to be dealt

with special care.

O : outside relations. It goes without saying that international

relations are crucial. Note however, that it is not only EU member

states whose sympathy should be sought. Particular attention

should be paid to neighboring countries. None of the former

Yugoslavian republics should let history doom present relations to

failure. Unless Serbia will be able to have mature negotiations

with its neighbors concerning the most important aspects of life,

the European Union – and other supra- and international

organizations – will not handle the country as an equal partner.

P : potential. Serbia is a lucky country. Don‟t agree? Just think

about the favorable conditions and potential it has! Its

Page | 24

geographical location, the influence of its economy in the region,

its multi-ethnic population and rich cultural life are all chances

which should be seized now in order to build up a well-functioning

country which will benefit present and upcoming generations too.

E : a European perspective. Being a European is a very good

starting point in many respects, and it brings about a lot of

assumptions towards a country. Dealing with global issues with

European generosity often delivers satisfying results; therefore

Serbia should follow this ideology in its foreign policy and

international affairs. Harmonizing foreign policy is a prerequisite

of membership too.

My conclusion is that the only thing Serbia should do in order to

overcome the challenges it faces on its way to the EU, is to listen

to EUROPE, while safeguarding its own values and protecting its

traditions – which is, by the way, an essential element of being

European and being a member of the European Union.

Page | 25

Ena Peeva

…is 18 years old and in her last year in

high school. For Ena this topic is

something that she finds very important

and attractive, because she wants to study

International Relations and work in this field

in the future.

I approve the changes in the Justice System, changes in the

Health Resources, as well as the one in the Educational

system and I must say that I feel very happy when I see that

they are slowly becoming real life changes that people can

feel throughout real life situations.

Becoming part of the European Union is one of the most

important goals for my country, its current government and most

of its citizens. Macedonia, as a crossroad country, has been

attractive for foreign investments since always, but unfortunately,

it was also very attractive for conquering. It is a real Balkan

treasure, small, rich with natural resources and most important

with a very strategic location. It is a transit country, which

connects the Balkans to Eastern, Western and Central Europe.

Nowadays, the politicians that are leading the Macedonian

government have one main issue, called Macedonia in Europe.

Most of the citizens are for achieving this issue, but there are also

a big number of them that does not want to see its bellowed

Page | 26

homeland country in the EU, because they do not want to be in

the EU as citizens of a country that is not Macedonia. I, as a

young citizen of this country, at almost 18 years of age, can say

that yes, I admit and respect almost all challenges that the EU

gives to its member states, but I do not agree with changing the

identity in order to become an EU member. There must be

another solution for this challenge, but time is needed to find it

out.

I approve the changes in the Justice System, changes in the

Health Resources, as well as the one in the Educational system

and I must say that I feel very happy when I see that they are

slowly becoming real life changes that people can feel throughout

real life situations. Macedonia is a candidate for accession to

Europe since 2005 and until then and also since then a lot of

things have started going positive. As a student, I mostly

appreciate the changes in Education, because on its way towards

the EU, Macedonia has made big changes in the Educational

programs and what I like the most about the changes, it has

opened the students‟ prospective viewing much more widely than

it used to be before.

Since achieving the candidate status, the students got a chance

to expand their knowledge outside the borders of their country,

throughout different Exchange programs, mostly funded by the

European Union. If we perceive it from the real point of view,

without the EU‟s pleading for Macedonian students, 95% of them

wouldn‟t ever get a chance to expand their knowledge outside the

country borders. I believe that the cancelling of the visa system

for Macedonia has also helped a lot for expanding the horizons of

citizens of one country and making them ready for accepting the

Page | 27

challenges that EU gives in order to become its member. It is very

hard to explain to the citizens of a country that until yesterday

was part of a communist system that did not make any changes

for ages, the reforms that they have to make in order to join the

EU family, unless you show them and open their horizons. I

strongly believe that throughout traveling, exchanges and, most

important, with meeting new cultures and traditions, people

expand their views and start accepting change easier.

To summarize, I think that Macedonia as a country system has

passed successfully a lot of challenges in order to achieve the

candidate status. The exams that were given to us until now were

successfully passed, but before us there is a new challenge in the

period that is to follow and that we have to pass it even more

successfully in order to get into the EU. We should learn that we

cannot use our hot-strings in order to achieve something, as well

as that being a string puller is not allowed when talking about the

Justice System, Health System and any other system that is

state-funded. We should teach the young generations that

becoming successful and achieving the life challenges is not

easy, but when you fulfill it with your own work, then they are a

million times worthier than when fulfilling it as a string puller.

When, we will say out loud that we have achieved all this, than

we can say that we are ready for becoming EU members.

Page | 28

Anastazija Dimitrova

…studies environmental engineering and

landscape architecture in Skopje.

In the future Anastazija hopes to

achieve her goals, contribute to the

society and inspire people in many ways.

If we become a member of the EU under a different name that

is not Macedonia that is just a desperate nation with lost

identity, history and tradition who will never be able to do

much good in the Union.

During these 19 years of my life, according to some people I have

seen a lot, and according to other yet so little. One thing that

everyone can be sure of, is that I have seen and felt the never-

ending battle my country is leading in order to become a member

of the European Union. It has been stated over and over again

that this is our primary goal, but the question why after 20 years

we are still far away from becoming a member still stays

unanswered.

One of the most complicated problems that Macedonia is facing

in the process of becoming a candidate is the name issue. Many

people will say that this is just a silly misunderstanding, a battle of

Don Quixote against the wind mills, but how can we stay

indifferent when someone wants to rename us against our will. If

we become a member of the EU under a different name that is

Page | 29

not Macedonia that is just a desperate nation with lost identity,

history and tradition who will never be able to do much good in

the Union. In order to solve this problem, it is my belief that we

have to explain to the world that a name is never just a name, it is

a whole identity and identity is the one thing that no one has the

right to take away from you.

Of course the name is not the only problem. As residents of the

Balkan Polynesian, is in our mentality to think that we are better

then everyone, that we need no help or assistance from anyone,

that we can make it on our own. Well, if I have the chance to say

one thing to the people who run my country it will be this: You

cannot do everything, you do not know everything. Ask for help,

ask for opinions! We have to understand that asking for help is

not a bad thing to do. It will not make us look bad and it will not

make us loose. We can learn so much from countries and nations

around the world. If we just try to change and fix things one by

one, by looking and comparing what other have done, we will be

more developed, more organized and more appreciated from

Europe and the world.

These changes of course, can never happen by night. But we, as

young people can help to make them happen sooner. We have to

understand that it is of great importance for Macedonia to

become a part of the European family, because that will help us

and our fellow citizens in the future. We have to stand up and

speak, we have to inspire change and be the change. We have to

take some action and show that we, the youth have the power

within us. It is never easy to conquer so many challenges. But if

we don‟t try who will?

Page | 30

Aleda Kushta

…is 19 years old and she is studying

Economics in her first

academic year, in Tirana.

Aleda speaks English, Turkish and a

little bit of Spanish and Italian language.

The barriers that are created between the opposition and

government are making our achievement in the EU even

more difficult and the time of admission is being extended

indefinitely.

“A day will come when you, France, you, Italy, you, England, you,

Germany, all of you nations of the continent, will, without losing

your distinctive qualities, be blended into a European fraternity.”

This was what Victor Hugo, a well known French poet and

novelist predicted about the future of Europe. In this century, his

predictions came true.

But what is the EU? European Union is an economic alliance of

nations. It unifies standards and laws that contribute to economic

growth. The EU goals include promoting economic and social

progress, introducing European citizenship as a complement to

national citizenship, and giving the EU a significant role in

Page | 31

international affairs. To achieve its goal of a borderless Europe,

the EU is removing barriers to free trade among its members.

The right to free movement under the same conditions as every

national citizen in the EU Member state. The right to vote and to

stand in local and European elections throughout the EU. The

right to diplomatic protection by every EU Members States

representation in the world. The right to file a petition to the EU

Parliament. Everyone who is citizen of a Member State is

automatically a EU citizen.

Every country that wants to be a member of the EU must not

allow corruption in administrative bureaus. Everyone must be

treated equally in front of the law. The comprehension between

the government and the opposition is also a very important issue

because it gives a political stability to the country. The

independence of the courts is another obligation if you want to be

an EU member. The implementation of the new currency, the

Euro, so we won‟t use anymore the Lek currency. The economy

of the state must be in a certain level so that the country

development and welfare could be greater.

The first step that my country, Albania took last December was

the liberalization of the visa. I remember very well that day

because it made possible our free movement among the

European countries. The joy and happiness that this brought to

people that went for the first time outside Albania to see their

families or relatives after many years was indescribable. I was

also one of this people; I went to see my relatives in Austria after

4 years. This was a successful achievement for Albania. Another

important achievement was also the membership in the OTAN.

Page | 32

The main point that makes the EU to be so requested is the

importance of an extraordinary practice such as the one that

determines not only the politics and economy, but also the

everyday issues of all citizens including day by day even more

areas. As an important example we can use the implementation

of the currency Euro as a mean of payment since 2002. Another

reason is that now the decisions are not only taken in the capital

cities of the states which are members in the EU, but also in

Brussels.

The EU is considered as the biggest economical zone in the

world. The importance of the EU has increased also due to its

gradual expansion. There were only 6 countries when it started

and now there are 27 members of the EU. Taking this in

consideration, if Albania could achieve being an EU member in

the future would be a significant accomplishment which will help

my country to have a greater development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Albania did not achieve her challenges because of

the disputes between the government and opposition. The last

elections for the Major of Tirana brought once again the political

forces into conflicts. Even though the elections were declared by

the respective ambassadors in Albania and the EU ambassadors

as regular and impartial ones, the opposition forces rejected

them.

The barriers that are created between the opposition and

government are making our achievement in the EU even more

difficult and the time of admission is being extended indefinitely.

As soon as these disputes could be solved, our acceptance in the

EU family will be a reality.

Page | 33

Arber Selmani

…currently works as an arts journalist

in a daily newspaper in Pristina.

In the last years he has worked on the

radio and a television station.

Arber is also a student of Marketing.

Five European countries do not recognize Kosovo as an

independent country, there is corruption, murders, crimes,

and other things, but the main justification to all these things

is: “we are in transition.”

When I think about that almost 45% of population of Republic of

Kosovo, my country, are unemployed, 35% of them lives in poor

conditions, 18% of them are facing the death and from the

corruption field we are the best one, with all these facts it looks

like we are far away from the integration of European Union. Its

not that I don‟t want to, but those guys from the EU are not

“foolish” people to accept us, the country which they expect

stability and they don‟t find something near that. However, if you

think about the development of this country in the period after the

war, EU had made only one mistake, when they asked for State

stability in Kosovo, because in fact the Republic of Kosovo is the

most stabile country in Balkans, Europe or almost in the whole

world, but still if we take a look to the state stability of European

Page | 34

countries we have many examples when people of those

countries have abused state finances. Half-stability we can count

either when the number of unemployment is very high

approximately 45%-50% , stability is when the young people are

not educated and everyday they used to spend their lives to the

coffee bars and pubs, there is no future from these places. It is

stabile even the citizen votes that happens once in a while, and it

doesn‟t change anything. If it is required the stability of the

country in order to integrate to EU, what we can say about this, is

that Kosovo is on a sub-way with no end. Kosovo was always

been stabile even though we had many promises from politicians

in their electoral campaigns that they will change and improve our

country for a better future; those were only bunch of lies from

them, of course with a lot of stability again.

I checked the other things to figure out other conditions to be part

of EU. It was required a stable economy. Maybe I‟m not

exaggerating this, but the stability was always there. Economic

tenders are always won by inexperienced people.

Kosovo as a new country is the biggest victim of Former-

Yugoslavia which means that is far away from this integration.

Five European countries do not recognize Kosovo as an

independent country, there is corruption, murders, crimes, and

other things, but the main justification to all these things is: “we

are in transition.” Recently, Japan had a powerful earthquake

which left many consequences in that country but if we compare

the photographs which were taken after the earthquake and

those taken 6 months after that happened, it looks different

country and what Japanese people did was a masterpiece

Page | 35

because for 6 months they achieved rebuilding their country in

the best possible way. In Kosovo, since the war is over 11 years

are not enough to improve the country and still the only

justification is that we are in Transition.

Years ago when the police files were stolen inside the police

department, it would be a huge scandal all over the world but

what the prime minister said was “the police was careless in this

situation and we have to be more careful”. If you can make it to

steal files in police department that means that you can kill 20

people in the middle of the day. 12 years have gone and I‟m 12

years older now, so if I multiply with 5 or 6 I will be quite old when

this country can make it possible to integrate between other EU

countries. It is not random that we had internationals for a quite

long time after the war, because not many of them help us, if we

don‟t firstly help ourselves. Often it is said that young people can

shake rocks but I do not agree that they can move the terrible

foundation. Millions money of Kosovo have lost and I cannot

return them back as an economist. Personally what I can do is to

create a good state education, so these things cannot happen

again.

Page | 36

„Time for Plan B-alkans”:

Irma Zulić Sonja Delova (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (Macedonia)

Dajana Džindo Cristian

(Bosnia and Herzegovina) Gherasim (Romania)

Rezarta Chausaj Žarko

(Albania) Petrović (Montenegro)

The content of this publication is a sole responsibility of the members of “Time for Plan B-alkans”

project group and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the organizers of the Southeast

Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme