EP in favor of EU's talks with Serbia in December

BRUSSELS Through its work on reforms and engagement in the implementation of the Brussels agreement Serbia "deserved to start the EU accession talks in December." This is contained in draft of the annual report on progress, which will be tabled soon before the members of the European Parliament and which Tanjug has seen. EP in favor of EU's talks with Serbia in December The EP considers that the EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference should take place in December 2013 provided that Serbia meets the criteria laid down in the Council's conclusions defined in June, reads the draft report, which will be discussed by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs late in October before it is adopted as a resolution. The six-page report reads that Serbia has made a considerable progress in the EU integration process and urges the authorities to continue with socio-economic reforms. Moreover, the EP commends on the efforts made in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, stressing the crucial importance of the local elections in Kosovo scheduled for November 3. The EP encourages the authorities in Belgrade "to engage in good faith with the Serb community in all of Kosovo and to refrain from campaigning on behalf of any specific electoral list, but to focus solely on enhancing the participation of the local Serbs in the elections, reads the draft report." The document welcomes the adoption of the Strategy and the Action Plan on the reform of the judiciary and urges the authorities to intensify efforts on their implementation, and at the same time expresses concern about the legal uncertainty brought by the number of judges carrying out their duties in acting capacity. The draft report also commends the efforts in the fight against corruption, and points to the importance of political will to successfully carry out investigations into abuses including the 24 privatization affairs singled out by the Anti-Corruption Council. In terms of human rights, the draft report strongly condemns the authorities' decision to ban the planned September 2013 Belgrade Pride Parade and calls for respect of all minorities, national, ethnic and sexual. The EP emphasizes the need to ensure freedom of the media, and welcomes in that regard the decriminalization of defamation. It also points to the need of maintaining a strong public broadcasting service and to ensure complete transparency in media ownership, while it deeply regrets continued threats against journalists. The EP remains "particularly concerned about the legal uncertainty of the status of Vojvodina" and the delay in adoption of a law on Vojvodina's own resources, stressing the benefits of decentralization process and the strengthening of the competency of local authorities for the country's economic development, Tanjug reported. The draft document, which was composed by Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin, will be officially presented to the members of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 24, and the final version, after the discussion and adoption of amendments, will be passed at a plenary session in Strasbourg. The EP resolutions are not binding, but they are taken into consideration in decision making by the European Council and the European Commission. Tanjug

EP in favor of EU's talks with Serbia in December

The EP considers that the EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference should take place in December 2013 provided that Serbia meets the criteria laid down in the Council's conclusions defined in June, reads the draft report, which will be discussed by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs late in October before it is adopted as a resolution.

The six-page report reads that Serbia has made a considerable progress in the EU integration process and urges the authorities to continue with socio-economic reforms.

Moreover, the EP commends on the efforts made in the implementation of the Brussels agreement, stressing the crucial importance of the local elections in Kosovo scheduled for November 3.

The EP encourages the authorities in Belgrade "to engage in good faith with the Serb community in all of Kosovo and to refrain from campaigning on behalf of any specific electoral list, but to focus solely on enhancing the participation of the local Serbs in the elections, reads the draft report."

The document welcomes the adoption of the Strategy and the Action Plan on the reform of the judiciary and urges the authorities to intensify efforts on their implementation, and at the same time expresses concern about the legal uncertainty brought by the number of judges carrying out their duties in acting capacity.

The draft report also commends the efforts in the fight against corruption, and points to the importance of political will to successfully carry out investigations into abuses including the 24 privatization affairs singled out by the Anti-Corruption Council.

In terms of human rights, the draft report strongly condemns the authorities' decision to ban the planned September 2013 Belgrade Pride Parade and calls for respect of all minorities, national, ethnic and sexual.

The EP emphasizes the need to ensure freedom of the media, and welcomes in that regard the decriminalization of defamation. It also points to the need of maintaining a strong public broadcasting service and to ensure complete transparency in media ownership, while it deeply regrets continued threats against journalists.

The EP remains "particularly concerned about the legal uncertainty of the status of Vojvodina" and the delay in adoption of a law on Vojvodina's own resources, stressing the benefits of decentralization process and the strengthening of the competency of local authorities for the country's economic development, Tanjug reported.

The draft document, which was composed by Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin, will be officially presented to the members of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 24, and the final version, after the discussion and adoption of amendments, will be passed at a plenary session in Strasbourg.

The EP resolutions are not binding, but they are taken into consideration in decision making by the European Council and the European Commission.