Đelić: Candidacy to be coordinated with EU

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic told daily Blic that Belgrade must coordinate its application for EU candidacy with Brussels. He said that the agreement for budget aid from the EU, worth EUR 100mn, is proof that Brussels has confidence in the reforms being implemented in Serbia, which is why the application for candidacy must be coordinated with the EU, “even if it is submitted an hour after the decision for implementing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) is made.” Djelic: Candidacy to be coordinated with EU Djelic said that the money received from the EU will be used to “pay pensions, subsidies on credit for buying homes, building infrastructure and other uses we decide on.” “With this, the EU is recognizing our reforms, because it only agreed in the case of Serbia to partially replace the budget deficit. We will receive two installments of EUR 50mn, one this year and one next year. The condition is to implement the programs of the IMF and continue working on European integration,” Djelic said. Regarding announcements that Serbia could apply for candidacy for EU membership in December, he said that this will not happen without a prior agreement with Brussels. “It is not a problem to apply for candidacy, we can do it tomorrow. However, applying for candidacy without an agreement with our European partners would be a political act without concrete effects,” Djelic warned. “Candidacy must be a step that has been agreed on with the EU, with the goal of receiving candidate status and beginning negotiations for joining the EU. In order to receive candidate status, we must start implementing the SAA, at least for a day,” Djelic said. He said that the chronology of steps is well-known and that it will not change just for Serbia. "That is why, at this moment, our efforts must be dedicated to implementing the interim trade agreement, Serbia does not need marketing tricks, but essential and sustainable progress,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet archive)

Đelić: Candidacy to be coordinated with EU

Đelić said that the money received from the EU will be used to “pay pensions, subsidies on credit for buying homes, building infrastructure and other uses we decide on.”

“With this, the EU is recognizing our reforms, because it only agreed in the case of Serbia to partially replace the budget deficit. We will receive two installments of EUR 50mn, one this year and one next year. The condition is to implement the programs of the IMF and continue working on European integration,” Đelić said.

Regarding announcements that Serbia could apply for candidacy for EU membership in December, he said that this will not happen without a prior agreement with Brussels.

“It is not a problem to apply for candidacy, we can do it tomorrow. However, applying for candidacy without an agreement with our European partners would be a political act without concrete effects,” Đelić warned.

“Candidacy must be a step that has been agreed on with the EU, with the goal of receiving candidate status and beginning negotiations for joining the EU. In order to receive candidate status, we must start implementing the SAA, at least for a day,” Đelić said.

He said that the chronology of steps is well-known and that it will not change just for Serbia.

"That is why, at this moment, our efforts must be dedicated to implementing the interim trade agreement, Serbia does not need marketing tricks, but essential and sustainable progress,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.