"Important moment for Serbia," says EU representative

BELGRADE Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has said Serbia has achieved significant progress and made steps towards the EU. It is now at an important point, awaiting a report by the European Commission (EC), he was quoted as saying. "Important moment for Serbia," says EU representative The EC report in April will evaluate the progress in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina and the reform process, he stated. There has been significant commitment to dialogue in recent months, and Serbia's prime minister will discuss in Brussels on Tuesday further normalization of the relations with Pristina, Degert noted. Degert spoke at the opening of a public hearing on the action plan for the fulfilment of the EC recommendations at the parliament and said this was an important moment for Serbia because the EC will present its report to the Council on April 16 followed by debates on the report in the parliaments of the EU members and culminating on June 28 with the decision on whether to give Serbia the start date for the accession talks. When it comes to reforms, Brussels expects further progress in the battle against corruption and organized crime, reform of the judiciary and public administration and battle against discrimination. The parliament should continue strengthening its relations with the parliaments of EU members, Degert said. The action plan is the path of structural changes Serbia wants to achieve and shows the country's credibility in EU integration and its commitment to changes. Head of the government office for EU integration Milan Pajevic presented the plan, which the government adopted on December 6, 2012 and which ends on September 1, 2013. The EC is preparing another report besides the one on progress, and it is a smaller one focusing on several key areas: coordination of the reforms concerning EU integration, judiciary reform, battle against corruption, respecting the independence of key institutions, media freedom, anti-discrimination and inclusion of vulnerable groups, minority protection and business environment, Pajevic pointed out. The report will be joined with the comprehensive EC report so the decision on June 28 would be the best and clearest possible, he remarked. Regardless of the report, the EC will be tasked with preparing the framework for the talks with Serbia, Pajevic stressed. The EU integration office will compile in March a report on the level of fulfilment of the EC requirements and send it to the government and the EC. (Tanjug) Tanjug

"Important moment for Serbia," says EU representative

The EC report in April will evaluate the progress in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina and the reform process, he stated. There has been significant commitment to dialogue in recent months, and Serbia's prime minister will discuss in Brussels on Tuesday further normalization of the relations with Priština, Degert noted.

Degert spoke at the opening of a public hearing on the action plan for the fulfilment of the EC recommendations at the parliament and said this was an important moment for Serbia because the EC will present its report to the Council on April 16 followed by debates on the report in the parliaments of the EU members and culminating on June 28 with the decision on whether to give Serbia the start date for the accession talks.

When it comes to reforms, Brussels expects further progress in the battle against corruption and organized crime, reform of the judiciary and public administration and battle against discrimination.

The parliament should continue strengthening its relations with the parliaments of EU members, Degert said.

The action plan is the path of structural changes Serbia wants to achieve and shows the country's credibility in EU integration and its commitment to changes.

Head of the government office for EU integration Milan Pajević presented the plan, which the government adopted on December 6, 2012 and which ends on September 1, 2013.

The EC is preparing another report besides the one on progress, and it is a smaller one focusing on several key areas: coordination of the reforms concerning EU integration, judiciary reform, battle against corruption, respecting the independence of key institutions, media freedom, anti-discrimination and inclusion of vulnerable groups, minority protection and business environment, Pajević pointed out.

The report will be joined with the comprehensive EC report so the decision on June 28 would be the best and clearest possible, he remarked.

Regardless of the report, the EC will be tasked with preparing the framework for the talks with Serbia, Pajević stressed.

The EU integration office will compile in March a report on the level of fulfilment of the EC requirements and send it to the government and the EC.