Ambassador: EC, Germany have different opinions

German Ambassador in Belgrade Wolfram Maas says Germany’s stance regarding Serbia's EU candidacy is different from that of the European Commission (EC).

Izvor: Tanjug

Friday, 11.11.2011.

16:26

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German Ambassador in Belgrade Wolfram Maas says Germany’s stance regarding Serbia's EU candidacy is different from that of the European Commission (EC). Maas told Tanjug on Friday that the German government had not yet made a decision regarding the granting of candidate status to Serbia. Ambassador: EC, Germany have different opinions The European Commission adopted in mid-October a recommendation to grant Serbia the EU candidate status. The final decision will be made by the European Council on December 9. “As regards the expectations of Germany, which were expressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Belgrade in August, it is true that there is a difference of opinion between the European Commission and Germany’s position,” Maas stressed. The ambassador said that the decision on Serbia's candidate status was not a decision of the European Commission and that it was just a proposal for the European Council, adding that the final decision would be made by all members of the EU. With regard to some media speculations that the German parliament could pass a resolution to postpone decision-making on Serbia’s candidate status until the middle of next year, Maas said that it was possible that the parliament pass a resolution on the progress of countries in the region, but pointed out that the decision was up to the German government. He explained that the German parliament was interested in the issue of Serbia’s candidacy and recalled that three Bundestag delegations had visited Belgrade last week. “The German parliament will, however, have its say about setting a date of the beginning of negotiations for membership in the EU,” the ambassador noted. During her visit to Belgrade in August, Merkel said that on its way to the EU, Serbia needed to implement reforms and fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, including cooperation with its neighbors. She also said that it was necessary to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, that it must make progress, and that the agreements reached so far must be implemented. Wolfram Maas (FoNet, file)

Ambassador: EC, Germany have different opinions

The European Commission adopted in mid-October a recommendation to grant Serbia the EU candidate status. The final decision will be made by the European Council on December 9.

“As regards the expectations of Germany, which were expressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Belgrade in August, it is true that there is a difference of opinion between the European Commission and Germany’s position,” Maas stressed.

The ambassador said that the decision on Serbia's candidate status was not a decision of the European Commission and that it was just a proposal for the European Council, adding that the final decision would be made by all members of the EU.

With regard to some media speculations that the German parliament could pass a resolution to postpone decision-making on Serbia’s candidate status until the middle of next year, Maas said that it was possible that the parliament pass a resolution on the progress of countries in the region, but pointed out that the decision was up to the German government.

He explained that the German parliament was interested in the issue of Serbia’s candidacy and recalled that three Bundestag delegations had visited Belgrade last week.

“The German parliament will, however, have its say about setting a date of the beginning of negotiations for membership in the EU,” the ambassador noted.

During her visit to Belgrade in August, Merkel said that on its way to the EU, Serbia needed to implement reforms and fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, including cooperation with its neighbors.

She also said that it was necessary to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, that it must make progress, and that the agreements reached so far must be implemented.

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