"Serbia could open more chapters at end of year"

"Serbia could open more chapters at end of year"

Estonian Minister Sven Mikser says that during its presidency, his country will mainly concentrate on economic and financial aspects.

"We are ready to make progress in accession negotiations, subject to further progress in Serbia's reforms. During my stay in Belgrade, representatives of your government assured me that European reforms will continue and that the EU is Serbia's strategic goal," Mikser told the daily Vecernje Novosti.

He emphasized that it was necessary to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and that it was "important to respect the already reached agreements".

At the same time, he welcomed Serbia's "continuous progress" in accession negotiations, especially the recent opening of chapters 7 and 29, and said that the European Council will continue to pay attention to progress in chapters relating to the rule of law and the development of the situation with regard to normalization of relations with Pristina.

As he announced, one of the first events at the start of Estonia's presidency will be directed towards the process of European integration of candidate countries.

He expressed satisfaction that the head of Serbia's negotiating team Tanja Miscevic will participate in the informal meeting of the Working Group for Enlargement and the countries that are negotiating accession in Tallinn, to discuss further progress of Serbia.

Asked if he supports Germany's "Berlin Plus" proposal, aimed at establishing a fund for the Western Balkans which would finance regional projects, Mikser recalled that Estonia is not part of the Berlin Process, but supports such forms of cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans.

At the same time, he assessed that bilateral relations between Serbia and Estonia are good, but that trade and economic cooperation could strengthen.

Mikser added that Estonia was "continuously interested" and ready to develop bilateral relations in the field of e-government, and expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation in the IT sector.

Estonia's EU presidency priorities are "an open and an innovative European economy, and a digital, inclusive and sustainable Europe," said Mikser.