No new conditions for Serbia, British ambassador claims

Britain will continue to strongly support EU enlargement to all Western Balkans countries, Serbia included, said British Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport. He pointed out that there were no new conditions for Serbia. No new conditions for Serbia, British ambassador claims “There are no new conditions. The EU has one set of membership criteria. Serbia must meet them, just like other countries,” Davenport told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti. He said Serbia had made great progress, especially in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal but also in the legislative activities of the government and parliament in line with the Action Plan. Davenport noted that certain progress had also been made in judiciary, media and electoral reform, but added that there aws more work to be done in other areas, such as restitution. Talking about cooperation between neighboring countries, the ambassador said all countries aspiring to join the EU were expected to invest in good-neighborly relations, adding that the progress achieved in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina was very encouraging, but that a lot remained to be done. Asked if good cooperation means recognizing Kosovo before Serbia joins the EU, Davenport said: “There are no expectations that good cooperation must include recognition. As you know, even EU member countries themselves have different positions on the issue, but there is a lot of expectation Serbia will get involved in finding solutions to the problems in a constructive manner.” Asked if Pristina has the green light from the international community for its unilateral moves, he said any moves made without consultations would not contribute to stability. “We must arrive at a solution that all players can agree on. I hope and I expect Belgrade will treat cooperation with the international community, particularly with EULEX, as a priority,” the British ambassador was quoted as saying. When asked whether Serbia would join the EU in 2019, he said the timing was difficult to predict and that it would depend on Serbia's focus and determination in carrying out reforms.

No new conditions for Serbia, British ambassador claims

“There are no new conditions. The EU has one set of membership criteria. Serbia must meet them, just like other countries,” Davenport told Belgrade-based daily Večernje novosti.

He said Serbia had made great progress, especially in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal but also in the legislative activities of the government and parliament in line with the Action Plan.

Davenport noted that certain progress had also been made in judiciary, media and electoral reform, but added that there aws more work to be done in other areas, such as restitution.

Talking about cooperation between neighboring countries, the ambassador said all countries aspiring to join the EU were expected to invest in good-neighborly relations, adding that the progress achieved in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština was very encouraging, but that a lot remained to be done.

Asked if good cooperation means recognizing Kosovo before Serbia joins the EU, Davenport said:

“There are no expectations that good cooperation must include recognition. As you know, even EU member countries themselves have different positions on the issue, but there is a lot of expectation Serbia will get involved in finding solutions to the problems in a constructive manner.”

Asked if Priština has the green light from the international community for its unilateral moves, he said any moves made without consultations would not contribute to stability.

“We must arrive at a solution that all players can agree on. I hope and I expect Belgrade will treat cooperation with the international community, particularly with EULEX, as a priority,” the British ambassador was quoted as saying.

When asked whether Serbia would join the EU in 2019, he said the timing was difficult to predict and that it would depend on Serbia's focus and determination in carrying out reforms.