Enlargement commissioner backs Serbia on EU pathway

BELGRADE EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said late on Thursday that he had come to Belgrade to encourage Serbia to persevere on its European path. Fule and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic made statements to the press before the meeting, which was also attended by First Vice President Aleksandar Vucic, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic and Head of the EU Delegation to Belgrade Vincent Degert. Enlargement commissioner backs Serbia on EU pathway “I have come to congratulate you for everything you have achieved on the road to the European Union recently, to express my support and encourage you to continue in the same direction showing the same degree of commitment, determination and vision as you have shown when you were making vital decisions for the future of Serbia in the European family of countries,” Fuele said. He pointed out that his visit to Serbia was a result of Belgrade and Pristina reaching the important agreement (on executive powers to be enjoyed by a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo) a few days ago and the European Commission recommending that the EU begins accession talks with Serbia. “The visit represents a new level of the EU engagement in Serbia,” said Fule, noting that further talks would focus on Serbia's future steps on the European path, such as the implementation of the agreement reached in Brussels, but also reforms. “At a conference tomorrow, we will discuss various issues, including the fight against corruption and judicial reform,” he added. The European commissioner noted that these were very important times for Serbia and its citizens. Fule expressed his satisfaction about having the opportunity to play a part in the writing of a new history of Serbia. “These are special moments not only for you but also for the EU and me personally,” he stressed. Dacic that Serbia expected a positive opinion concerning a date for the start of its EU accession negotiations. Before the meeting with Fule, the prime minister told reporters that Serbia must not and could not be standing still or making backward steps any longer, but rather must stride towards Europe. “Had Serbia refused to strike a deal with Pristina in Brussels, who knows for how long we would remain distant from other European countries,” he said. Dacic pointed out that Serbia had to increase its pace on the road to the EU, recalling that the country's GDP is now at 65 percent of the GDP in 1989. He said that Serbia's image had changed, attitude toward the country had become more positive and in such circumstances, as a respected country, Serbia had better chances of realizing its interests. Thanking Fule on the constructive approach taken, Dacic said Serbia had never viewed the EU as an opposing side, but rather as a partner. The prime minister added that Belgrade believed that the requirements had been met for a date for the start of accession talks to be given to Serbia, adding that if this happened, it would signify the beginning of a new era in the relations between Serbia and the EU. Stefan Fule and Ivica Dacic (Tanjug) Tanjug

Enlargement commissioner backs Serbia on EU pathway

“I have come to congratulate you for everything you have achieved on the road to the European Union recently, to express my support and encourage you to continue in the same direction showing the same degree of commitment, determination and vision as you have shown when you were making vital decisions for the future of Serbia in the European family of countries,” Fuele said.

He pointed out that his visit to Serbia was a result of Belgrade and Priština reaching the important agreement (on executive powers to be enjoyed by a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo) a few days ago and the European Commission recommending that the EU begins accession talks with Serbia.

“The visit represents a new level of the EU engagement in Serbia,” said Fule, noting that further talks would focus on Serbia's future steps on the European path, such as the implementation of the agreement reached in Brussels, but also reforms.

“At a conference tomorrow, we will discuss various issues, including the fight against corruption and judicial reform,” he added.

The European commissioner noted that these were very important times for Serbia and its citizens.

Fule expressed his satisfaction about having the opportunity to play a part in the writing of a new history of Serbia.

“These are special moments not only for you but also for the EU and me personally,” he stressed.

Dačić that Serbia expected a positive opinion concerning a date for the start of its EU accession negotiations.

Before the meeting with Fule, the prime minister told reporters that Serbia must not and could not be standing still or making backward steps any longer, but rather must stride towards Europe.

“Had Serbia refused to strike a deal with Priština in Brussels, who knows for how long we would remain distant from other European countries,” he said.

Dačić pointed out that Serbia had to increase its pace on the road to the EU, recalling that the country's GDP is now at 65 percent of the GDP in 1989.

He said that Serbia's image had changed, attitude toward the country had become more positive and in such circumstances, as a respected country, Serbia had better chances of realizing its interests.

Thanking Fule on the constructive approach taken, Dačić said Serbia had never viewed the EU as an opposing side, but rather as a partner.

The prime minister added that Belgrade believed that the requirements had been met for a date for the start of accession talks to be given to Serbia, adding that if this happened, it would signify the beginning of a new era in the relations between Serbia and the EU.