EU to once again discuss opening of Chapter 23 Tuesday

EU to once again discuss opening of Chapter 23 Tuesday

Sources in London have announced that the UK will now officially consent to the opening of the chapter, which deals with the judiciary and fundamental rights.

To date, the UK has taken no position on the matter due to what Brussels said were "technical problems" resulting from the UK's EU referendum and Brexit.

Tanjug's sources say that intensive discussions are under way with Croatia on reaching a consensus of all EU member states on the opening of new chapters in Serbia's accession talks at the beginning of the Slovak EU presidency, following a three-month blockade by Zagreb.

Croatia's caretaker Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic said in Brussels last Wednesday that Croatia had not changed its position and that its demands regarding war crimes trials, minority rights and Serbia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia remained the same.

If a consensus is reached, chapters 23 and 24 could be opened on July 18 at the earliest, when the Council of EU Foreign Ministers is to meet in Brussels, European diplomatic sources say.