Serbia is on right track, EU’s Ashton says

ZAGREB EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has stated in Zagreb that Serbia “is no the right track to have an even better future”. She met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic on Thursday and they expressed support to the EU accession of the countries in the region. Serbia is on right track, EU’s Ashton says Ashton said after the meeting, commenting on the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina that from the EU’s point of view “it is important to reach a point that is necessary for the fulfillment of conditions from the December conclusions”. The EU high representative reiterated that she would meet with Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci soon, adding that it was stated in conclusions of the European Council from December 2012 what needed to be done in relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Ashton stressed that she had already praised Dacic and Thaci for their “courage and commitment” and hard work they did in order to reach the agreement. She and the Croatian president discussed Croatia’s EU accession and regional issues. The EU high representative underscored that Croatia’s EU membership was important for the region as well. “Croatia’s EU membership is important for the region as well,” Ashton said and congratulated Croatia, that will join the Union on July 1, on everything it had done on the EU pathway. Josipovic stressed that Croatia supported all the neighboring countries on their EU pathway “if they meet the conditions”. “It took Croatia several years to fulfill the conditions for the EU accession. I wish Serbia to do the job as fast as it can,” he said. When asked about certain positions that the EU enlargement process should be suspended for several years after Croatia’s accession, Josipovic said that it was a “matter of assessment” and that Croatia would continue to advocate further enlargement “not so the EU would enlarge, but so it would be complete”. He pointed out that Croatia’s EU membership was important both for the country and the EU. Before her meeting with Josipovic, Ashton met with Croatia's Frist Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic. Catherine Ashton (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Serbia is on right track, EU’s Ashton says

Ashton said after the meeting, commenting on the agreement between Belgrade and Priština that from the EU’s point of view “it is important to reach a point that is necessary for the fulfillment of conditions from the December conclusions”.

The EU high representative reiterated that she would meet with Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci soon, adding that it was stated in conclusions of the European Council from December 2012 what needed to be done in relations between Belgrade and Priština.

Ashton stressed that she had already praised Dačić and Thaci for their “courage and commitment” and hard work they did in order to reach the agreement.

She and the Croatian president discussed Croatia’s EU accession and regional issues. The EU high representative underscored that Croatia’s EU membership was important for the region as well.

“Croatia’s EU membership is important for the region as well,” Ashton said and congratulated Croatia, that will join the Union on July 1, on everything it had done on the EU pathway.

Josipović stressed that Croatia supported all the neighboring countries on their EU pathway “if they meet the conditions”.

“It took Croatia several years to fulfill the conditions for the EU accession. I wish Serbia to do the job as fast as it can,” he said.

When asked about certain positions that the EU enlargement process should be suspended for several years after Croatia’s accession, Josipović said that it was a “matter of assessment” and that Croatia would continue to advocate further enlargement “not so the EU would enlarge, but so it would be complete”.

He pointed out that Croatia’s EU membership was important both for the country and the EU.

Before her meeting with Josipović, Ashton met with Croatia's Frist Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić.