"No new requirements for EU integration"

BRUSSELS The European Commission "supports Serbia's efforts towards EU integration and has no new requirements," says Branko Ruzic. The minister without portfolio in in the Serbian government in charge of EU integration spoke on Tuesday after he and head of Serbia's team for EU accession talks Tanja Miscevic met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. "No new requirements for EU integration" EU integration is a challenge, he stated, adding that an agreement was reached with Fule for obstacles to be removed through joint effort, so Serbia could become a member of the EU within a reasonable timeframe. The media reports about new requirements being set for Serbia are just speculations, he noted. "The framework for the talks is clearly defined, on the political, technical and expert levels," he stressed. Tanja Miscevic said after the meeting it had been an opportunity for her and Ruzic to present Fule with their plan, adding that they discussed at the meeting the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which recently entered into force. A European government meeting will be held on September 25 to adopt a set of laws related to EU integration, she pointed out. The explanatory screening (an analysis of how harmonized Serbia's law is with the EU's) will start in Brussels next week and Miscevic said it meant the start of the talks for Serbia. "Our goal is not only to become a member of the EU, but to also become a modern and developed European country," she stressed. Fule said in a statement after the meeting he was pleased the Serbian government was again working at full capacity after the reshuffle, adding that the discussion with the two Serbian officials had been constructive. A lot of challenges lie ahead, he remarked and welcomed the fact that the Serbian government had reasserted that EU integration was a priority for it. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

"No new requirements for EU integration"

EU integration is a challenge, he stated, adding that an agreement was reached with Fule for obstacles to be removed through joint effort, so Serbia could become a member of the EU within a reasonable timeframe.

The media reports about new requirements being set for Serbia are just speculations, he noted.

"The framework for the talks is clearly defined, on the political, technical and expert levels," he stressed.

Tanja Miscevic said after the meeting it had been an opportunity for her and Ružić to present Fule with their plan, adding that they discussed at the meeting the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which recently entered into force.

A European government meeting will be held on September 25 to adopt a set of laws related to EU integration, she pointed out.

The explanatory screening (an analysis of how harmonized Serbia's law is with the EU's) will start in Brussels next week and Miščević said it meant the start of the talks for Serbia.

"Our goal is not only to become a member of the EU, but to also become a modern and developed European country," she stressed.

Fule said in a statement after the meeting he was pleased the Serbian government was again working at full capacity after the reshuffle, adding that the discussion with the two Serbian officials had been constructive.

A lot of challenges lie ahead, he remarked and welcomed the fact that the Serbian government had reasserted that EU integration was a priority for it.