EC report no surprise, says committee chair

BELGRADE Parliamentary Committee on EU Integration chair Milica Delevic says the content of the European Commission's (EC) report on reforms in Serbia is "no surprise". The document is not surprising "neither in terms of what has been done so far, nor in terms of what needs to be done", said this official from the ranks of the opposition DS party, who previously served as head of a government office for EU integration. EC report no surprise, says committee chair Delevic told Tanjug that the report notes that the reform process and the processes of resolving political issues stalled due to elections in the country, but that the elections were fair and assessed positively by the OSCE, adding that the new government is committed to the continuation of Serbia's EU integration. She pointed out that the report noted challenges posed by the need to maintain economic stability, increase the number of employees and balance public finances, but also economic challenges, and political ones - which stem from the need to continue the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. "Normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina was last year defined as the key priority needed for opening Serbia's negotiations with the EU," Delevic said. The Commission expressed satisfaction that the new government is committed to continuing the EU integration process and clearly said that Serbia's progress will depend on the government's readiness to resolve open political issues and continue with reform processes, she pointed out. Delevic also pointed to negative assessments in the Report. "Besides the necessity to work on improving the economic situation, establishing stability and higher employment and regulating public finances, it has been noted that we need to deal with corruption and adopt a strategy and an action plan for the fight against corruption," she said. The report also notes that the independence of the central bank has been seriously challenged by the adoption of amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia, which is a step back when it comes to harmonization with the Union's acquis, Delevic concluded. Milica Delevic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

EC report no surprise, says committee chair

Delević told Tanjug that the report notes that the reform process and the processes of resolving political issues stalled due to elections in the country, but that the elections were fair and assessed positively by the OSCE, adding that the new government is committed to the continuation of Serbia's EU integration.

She pointed out that the report noted challenges posed by the need to maintain economic stability, increase the number of employees and balance public finances, but also economic challenges, and political ones - which stem from the need to continue the Belgrade-Priština dialogue.

"Normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština was last year defined as the key priority needed for opening Serbia's negotiations with the EU," Delević said.

The Commission expressed satisfaction that the new government is committed to continuing the EU integration process and clearly said that Serbia's progress will depend on the government's readiness to resolve open political issues and continue with reform processes, she pointed out.

Delević also pointed to negative assessments in the Report.

"Besides the necessity to work on improving the economic situation, establishing stability and higher employment and regulating public finances, it has been noted that we need to deal with corruption and adopt a strategy and an action plan for the fight against corruption," she said.

The report also notes that the independence of the central bank has been seriously challenged by the adoption of amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia, which is a step back when it comes to harmonization with the Union's acquis, Delević concluded.