EU representative reacts to president's statements

BELGRADE EU representative in Serbia Vincent Degert says President Tomislav Nikolic's recent statements "did not signal a change in Serbia's foreign policy". This is the case "since the new government had called the EU its strategic priority", Degert said, after Nikolic asserted that Serbia "would have its own conditions in the EU integration process" - because it had "no reason to chase dates and papers". EU representative reacts to president's statements "I do not consider this a change in Serbia's position. If we look at the coalition agreement signed by the government, it is stated clearly that the EU is a strategic priority for Serbia and I see no reason to give up on this goal," Degert told reporters at the government headquarters in Belgrade. He believes that the Serbian president "meant to say that the relations between Serbia and the EU should be based on substance, not on dates and deadlines". Talking about Serbia's further progress in EU integration, Degert said the conditions were clear. "They are the Copenhagen criteria. For Serbia to progress, we have said clearly that normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is an issue that must be resolved," he said. "When we talk about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, it is clear Serbia needs to define its position and reach a consensus on the issue, and to clearly state who will represent it when the dialogue resumes," the EU official stated. "The relations between Belgrade and Brussels are solid and should be fortified further, and Serbia should move closer to the next step, which means getting a date when it can start accession talks with the EU," said Degert. Vincent Degert (Beta, file) Tanjug

EU representative reacts to president's statements

"I do not consider this a change in Serbia's position. If we look at the coalition agreement signed by the government, it is stated clearly that the EU is a strategic priority for Serbia and I see no reason to give up on this goal," Degert told reporters at the government headquarters in Belgrade.

He believes that the Serbian president "meant to say that the relations between Serbia and the EU should be based on substance, not on dates and deadlines".

Talking about Serbia's further progress in EU integration, Degert said the conditions were clear.

"They are the Copenhagen criteria. For Serbia to progress, we have said clearly that normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is an issue that must be resolved," he said.

"When we talk about the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, it is clear Serbia needs to define its position and reach a consensus on the issue, and to clearly state who will represent it when the dialogue resumes," the EU official stated.

"The relations between Belgrade and Brussels are solid and should be fortified further, and Serbia should move closer to the next step, which means getting a date when it can start accession talks with the EU," said Degert.