"Negotiation chapters 35, 32 first to be opened"

"Negotiation chapters 35, 32 first to be opened"

We expect that Chapters 23 and 24, on judiciary and security, will be opened soon after that, Milenkovic said at the opening of the International Scientific Conference Serbia and the European Union - Preparations for Negotiations on Chapter 23 and 24.

She stated that the European Commission (EC) accepted the Action Plan for Chapter 24 in early September, which relates to justice, freedom and security, while last week the body accepted the plan for Chapter 23 as well - judiciary and fundamental rights.

What is next is presenting the action plans to EU member states, meaning the European Council, after which the preparation of the negotiating position will follow, as well the opening of negotiations.

Milenkovic stressed that Chapters 23 and 24, as well as Chapter 35, will mark the course of accession negotiations, because they will be the first to be opened, and the last to be closed at the end of the negotiating process.

This is in keeping with the so-called new approach to all EU candidate countries, which the EC adopted after Croatia's talks.

Milenkovic also said that the burning issue of migration is related to Chapter 24 and can influence the course of negotiations if the policy on this issue within the EU itself changes.

Progress report on October 14

The new report of the European Commission concerning Serbia's readiness and the progress achieved in terms of European integration will be published on October 14, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Oskar Benedikt said on Tuesday.

The talks with Serbia are going along well, Benedict said and recalled that the screening within the EU negotiations has been completed.

The EC report will show Serbia's position and progress that should lead to the opening of the first chapters in the EU negotiations, Benedikt said during a conference entitled "Dayton and the region - 20 years later - Further perspectives of the Western Balkans."