"Serbia creates positive image across Europe"

BELGRADE EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said that June 28 "will enter the history books as the day when Serbia started its accession talks with the EU." He also praised the country's leadership for their vision and courage which helped Serbia create a positive image throughout Europe. "Serbia creates positive image across Europe" "Above all, and in the first place, this is a fundamental and strategic choice of Serbia to set its course to the EU with resolve and enthusiasm and to make a break with the past, with desire to contribute to permanent regional reconciliation, giving priority to peaceful and pragmatic solutions in its relations with Kosovo and other neighbors," Fule said in his text for Tuesday's edition of Belgrade-based daily Politika. Also, he said, this is thanks to "the credibility of EU enlargement policy," through which the EU fulfills its promises when a candidate country meets all the necessary criteria. As he put it, this is the confirmation of Serbia's strong commitment to move forward a European future and that it has been definitely recognized as a source of regional stability. This success also came as a results of the persistent efforts of various Serbian leaders during the past 12 years, starting from late PM Zoran Djindjic. The process of EU integration will strongly back reforms and their effective implementation in Serbia. It will certainly generate a completely new impetus to all sectors. Although this process of transformation is demanding and sometimes painful, the experience with other candidate countries tells us that at the same time it contributes to sustainable socio-economic development, Fule stressed. "Serbia will have to make constant efforts, because the endpoint is very ambitious: to prepare Serbia for meeting all the criteria for membership which make up a common set of values and rules... The process is of the same importance as the end of the road," the EU commissioner concluded. "Platform before summer holidays, screening right after" Stefan Fule said on Monday that the framework for the accession talks with Serbia was nearly done, and that he expected the screening to start right after the summer holidays. He told the European Parliament foreign affairs committee the European Commission would submit the framework to the appropriate agencies for review on Monday, adding that the goal was to deliver it to the member countries before officials go on holiday. He expects the screening, a months-long process of reviewing the situation before the start of the talks, to start right after the end of holidays in EU institutions. He said he would send Deputy Director for Enlargement Joost Korte to Belgrade next week to discuss the preparations for the screening, while he would visit Belgrade personally in mid-July. Joost Korte replaces Stefano Sannino, who was appointed head of the Italian mission to the EU on Monday. Politika Tanjug

"Serbia creates positive image across Europe"

"Above all, and in the first place, this is a fundamental and strategic choice of Serbia to set its course to the EU with resolve and enthusiasm and to make a break with the past, with desire to contribute to permanent regional reconciliation, giving priority to peaceful and pragmatic solutions in its relations with Kosovo and other neighbors," Fule said in his text for Tuesday's edition of Belgrade-based daily Politika.

Also, he said, this is thanks to "the credibility of EU enlargement policy," through which the EU fulfills its promises when a candidate country meets all the necessary criteria.

As he put it, this is the confirmation of Serbia's strong commitment to move forward a European future and that it has been definitely recognized as a source of regional stability.

This success also came as a results of the persistent efforts of various Serbian leaders during the past 12 years, starting from late PM Zoran Đinđić.

The process of EU integration will strongly back reforms and their effective implementation in Serbia. It will certainly generate a completely new impetus to all sectors. Although this process of transformation is demanding and sometimes painful, the experience with other candidate countries tells us that at the same time it contributes to sustainable socio-economic development, Fule stressed.

"Serbia will have to make constant efforts, because the endpoint is very ambitious: to prepare Serbia for meeting all the criteria for membership which make up a common set of values and rules... The process is of the same importance as the end of the road," the EU commissioner concluded.

"Platform before summer holidays, screening right after"

Stefan Fule said on Monday that the framework for the accession talks with Serbia was nearly done, and that he expected the screening to start right after the summer holidays.

He told the European Parliament foreign affairs committee the European Commission would submit the framework to the appropriate agencies for review on Monday, adding that the goal was to deliver it to the member countries before officials go on holiday.

He expects the screening, a months-long process of reviewing the situation before the start of the talks, to start right after the end of holidays in EU institutions.

He said he would send Deputy Director for Enlargement Joost Korte to Belgrade next week to discuss the preparations for the screening, while he would visit Belgrade personally in mid-July.

Joost Korte replaces Stefano Sannino, who was appointed head of the Italian mission to the EU on Monday.