EP on interim trade agreement

The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee is expected to adopt a resolution in support of the ratification of EU’s interim trade agreement with Serbia.

Izvor: B92

Wednesday, 25.11.2009.

09:37

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The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee is expected to adopt a resolution in support of the ratification of EU’s interim trade agreement with Serbia. This resolution, if adopted, would be sent to the EU Council of Ministers. EP on interim trade agreement However, according to European MPs, full-fledged membership for Western Balkan countries will be possible only after all conditions have been fulfilled, especially those related to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. The trade deal is part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), which Brussels and Belgrade signed in the spring of 2008, but which has been suspended immediately after, pending Serbia's full cooperation with the court. However, Serbia has been unilaterally applying the interim agreement since the start of this year. Now committee officials stated in the draft resolution draft that Serbia has shown progress, especially in the unilateral implementation of the trade deal. They stated that this implementation "during the economic crisis" has shown "dedication to progress towards EU association". If adopted, the resolution will call on the Council of Ministers to support the ratification of the interim agreement as well. This document expresses satisfaction over the signing of a police cooperation agreement between Belgrade and the EULEX mission in Kosovo and calls for even closer joint activity, "especially in northern Kosovo". The resolution draft states that the EP hopes that the process of decentralization in Kosovo will be finished by the end of the year, "in order to meet the demands of the Ahtisaari plan". The former UN envoy's plan for Kosovo's supervised independence has previously been rejected by Belgrade. The draft resolution also states that the full operative capacities of EULEX should enable "the rule of law, public order and security throughout Kosovo". The document also states that full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal represents an essential condition for the progress of regional countries towards EU membership and calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association".

EP on interim trade agreement

However, according to European MPs, full-fledged membership for Western Balkan countries will be possible only after all conditions have been fulfilled, especially those related to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

The trade deal is part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), which Brussels and Belgrade signed in the spring of 2008, but which has been suspended immediately after, pending Serbia's full cooperation with the court.

However, Serbia has been unilaterally applying the interim agreement since the start of this year.

Now committee officials stated in the draft resolution draft that Serbia has shown progress, especially in the unilateral implementation of the trade deal.

They stated that this implementation "during the economic crisis" has shown "dedication to progress towards EU association".

If adopted, the resolution will call on the Council of Ministers to support the ratification of the interim agreement as well.

This document expresses satisfaction over the signing of a police cooperation agreement between Belgrade and the EULEX mission in Kosovo and calls for even closer joint activity, "especially in northern Kosovo".

The resolution draft states that the EP hopes that the process of decentralization in Kosovo will be finished by the end of the year, "in order to meet the demands of the Ahtisaari plan".

The former UN envoy's plan for Kosovo's supervised independence has previously been rejected by Belgrade.

The draft resolution also states that the full operative capacities of EULEX should enable "the rule of law, public order and security throughout Kosovo".

The document also states that full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal represents an essential condition for the progress of regional countries towards EU membership and calls on the countries of the Western Balkans to "solve conflicts and disputes they have with one another so that they do not turn into obstacles for EU association".

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