Chapter 35 to be "among first to be opened"

Chapter 35 to be "among first to be opened"

A new framework would be reached though the progress in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, which we expect to be achieved after the restoration of the political dialogue announced for early February 2015, and we will be able to count on opening of first chapters in the EU accession talks in the first few months of next year, the minister without portfolio in charge of EU integration said.

She noted that the EU, including the European Commission, was not certain for a while when it comes to the exact manner in which the talks on Chapter 35 would be conducted, which was an additional complication for the already difficult and sensitive matter. Nevertheless, she expressed the expectation that the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina political dialogue would bring about some progress in the area.

During the session of the Serbian parliament European Integration Committee, Joksimovic presented the details on the situation in the EU accession talks and expressed the expectation that the year of 2015 would be a very good year for Serbia's European integration.

"I expect that we will manage to resolve the dilemmas concerning Chapter 35 and that we will soon open Chapters 23 and 24 as the most important chapters that cover rule of law, judiciary, media and minority and human rights," Joksimovic said.

Action plans for Chapter 23 and 24 have been drafted and positive comments thereon have arrived from the European Commission, Joksimovic said and added that the chapters will remain open until the end of the negotiating process.

These are the most demanding political chapters and once we open them, we will very soon be able to open many others that are not as demanding and in which we have already achieved adjustments to a considerable degree, the minister said.

Noting that there are no new conditions for Serbia, Joksimovic said that everyone in the EU has recognized Serbia as a country which is conducting the most serious reform processes in the entire Western Balkan region.

"The reform process launched in Serbia mostly covers economic reforms, judiciary reform, rule of law, state administration and the public sector and it should produce changes to the better in a year or two both in terms of living standards and Serbia's readiness for continuation of the European integration process," Joksimovic said.

Support to European integration is rather stable and even slightly more widespread than in the previous three or four months, she said and added that the overall support to the EU integration process totals over 50 percent.