Đelić: Membership application possible in 2009

Serbia will consider applying for EU membership soon if the Interim Trade Agreement is not implemented soon, says Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic. In its annual progress report, the European Commission (EC) called on the EU to unblock the trade deal because of Serbia's progress in European integration and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Djelic: Membership application possible in 2009 Djelic said that Serbia’s progress in the integration process would help accelerate the process of receiving candidate status, once the political conditions – ie. the capture of the remaining Hague fugitives – were met. The minister said that Serbia had the support of the majority of the EU and would use that support to take further steps if the trade agreement remained unfrozen. "If in October and December there is no progress, and the trade deal isn't applied, the agreement with the EC and our European partners is to review the situation and take a decision on applying for membership,” he explained. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also supports unfreezing, but this decision cannot be taken without Holland's consent, which is showing signs of mellowing its position on full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. “Someone who works as a commissioner has to be a professional optimist. The Swedish EU presidency is the one that will decide, while the proposal to apply the agreement with Serbia will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Serbia is doing a very good and serious job over cooperation with the Hague court and its commitments linked to war crimes,” said Rehn. This year’s EC report notes Serbia’s progress in the majority of domains, while urging it to continue combating corruption, strengthening the judiciary’s role and showing that it is more willing to consistently apply European laws and standards. The EC voices its concern over the revival of “hate speech, threats and attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and members of minority groups.” Finally, Serbia must be constructive when it comes to regional cooperation and certain pragmatic issues linked to Kosovo, the report states. According to Djelic, the EC’s recommendations regarding Kosovo were status neutral and the province could not pose a problem in Serbia’s continued integration. He said that a solution had to be found for customs stamps and application of the CEFTA agreement, which includes Kosovo, adding that the province’s participation in regional initiatives was acceptable to Serbia, provided it was via UNMIK, and not as an independent state. Djelic, Rehn (FoNet, archive)

Đelić: Membership application possible in 2009

Đelić said that Serbia’s progress in the integration process would help accelerate the process of receiving candidate status, once the political conditions – ie. the capture of the remaining Hague fugitives – were met.

The minister said that Serbia had the support of the majority of the EU and would use that support to take further steps if the trade agreement remained unfrozen.

"If in October and December there is no progress, and the trade deal isn't applied, the agreement with the EC and our European partners is to review the situation and take a decision on applying for membership,” he explained.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also supports unfreezing, but this decision cannot be taken without Holland's consent, which is showing signs of mellowing its position on full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

“Someone who works as a commissioner has to be a professional optimist. The Swedish EU presidency is the one that will decide, while the proposal to apply the agreement with Serbia will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Serbia is doing a very good and serious job over cooperation with the Hague court and its commitments linked to war crimes,” said Rehn.

This year’s EC report notes Serbia’s progress in the majority of domains, while urging it to continue combating corruption, strengthening the judiciary’s role and showing that it is more willing to consistently apply European laws and standards.

The EC voices its concern over the revival of “hate speech, threats and attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and members of minority groups.”

Finally, Serbia must be constructive when it comes to regional cooperation and certain pragmatic issues linked to Kosovo, the report states.

According to Đelić, the EC’s recommendations regarding Kosovo were status neutral and the province could not pose a problem in Serbia’s continued integration.

He said that a solution had to be found for customs stamps and application of the CEFTA agreement, which includes Kosovo, adding that the province’s participation in regional initiatives was acceptable to Serbia, provided it was via UNMIK, and not as an independent state.