EU wants concrete Hague results

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said on Tuesday in Belgrade that the further pace of Serbia's European integration depends solely on the country. EU member states would demand concrete results from Belgrade's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), he said. EU wants concrete Hague results After meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, Fule stressed that those charged with war crimes should be brought to justice as soon as possible. The European commissioner pointed out it was not now time to speculate whether Serbia would get the EU membership candidacy status by year's end, stressing that the country should be seriously dedicated to reforms instead. Djelic pointed out that Serbia was ready to implement all the provisions contained in the action plan and that he expected the reforms to gain great momentum in the coming weeks and months. This year could prove a historic one for Serbia and we will not miss on the chance, Djelic underlined. He recalled that Serbia's goal was quite clear - the country wants to acquire the candidacy status in December as well as to be given the date for the pre-accession talks. Djelic noted that the talks between Fuee and himself had touched on the Danube Strategy, in which Serbia was taking part and which should be adopted at an EU Council meeting in Luxembourg in mid-April. The Serbian deputy prime minister announced a conference on social inclusion of Roma should be held in Belgrade on June 23. This year is an opportunity to implement the EU enlargement policy in the Western Balkans, Fule noted ahead of his visit. The EU wants closer ties with Serbia, said the commissioner, adding that he will use the visit to discuss Serbia's economic and political reforms, according to an announcement by the EU Delegation to Serbia. Fule and Djelic in Belgrade today (Beta) "In December" Serbian Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic once again stated on Monday that Serbia wants the December EU summit to grant it EU candidate status, and allow the country to start membership negotiations. "We will present to Mr. Fule what Serbia has been doing, especially when it comes to the action plan that the government adopted in December of last year," said he. Serbian officials, including President Boris Tadic, have repeatedly stated that in order to meet the end-of-year deadline when it comes to EU candidate status, Serbia must by June adopt laws related to political party financing, restitution, and blank MP resignations. Importance of education President Boris Tadic opened the conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Tempus program, an EU project aimed at modernizing higher education in Eu partner countries. Lack of investments in education lowers the living standard and makes it more difficult for people to find employment, said the president. It is extremely important for the higher education system to suit the needs of the economy and stimulate employment, because that speeds up development, he stressed. "Academic education and science are among the key driving forces behind our civilization's development, and those societies that invest in education and science have a chance of reaching the highest level of development and technological achievements," Tadic stated. The Tempus program is a great step forward for the EU because of the significance of compatible school systems, Tadic noted. Large differences in development levels are a security problem as well, so investments in education result in better security, he argued. The Tempus program focuses on eastern Europe, central Asia, Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region and promotes cooperation between universities in order to modernize academic education. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule attended the ceremony today to say that projects of the kind build bridges between Belgrade and Brussels. Fule underlined at the opening of the conference that such projects and education are important for the achievement of Serbia's strategic goal i.e. EU accession. Education has a key role in the economic development, and such projects form close ties in cooperation and knowledge exchange between various countries, the high EU official said. According to him, exchange of students is very important for transition from autocracy to democracy, promotion of the democratic values of the EU, and development of good neighborly relations. The participants of the two-day conference were also addressed by Director of the EuropeAid Development and Co-operation Directorate-General at the European Commission Francesca Mosca, who said that the EU has come to realize that education is one of crucial factors in fight against poverty and development of economy. Obradovic, Tadic and Fule (Beta)

EU wants concrete Hague results

After meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić, Fule stressed that those charged with war crimes should be brought to justice as soon as possible.

The European commissioner pointed out it was not now time to speculate whether Serbia would get the EU membership candidacy status by year's end, stressing that the country should be seriously dedicated to reforms instead.

Đelić pointed out that Serbia was ready to implement all the provisions contained in the action plan and that he expected the reforms to gain great momentum in the coming weeks and months.

This year could prove a historic one for Serbia and we will not miss on the chance, Đelić underlined.

He recalled that Serbia's goal was quite clear - the country wants to acquire the candidacy status in December as well as to be given the date for the pre-accession talks.

Đelić noted that the talks between Fuee and himself had touched on the Danube Strategy, in which Serbia was taking part and which should be adopted at an EU Council meeting in Luxembourg in mid-April.

The Serbian deputy prime minister announced a conference on social inclusion of Roma should be held in Belgrade on June 23.

This year is an opportunity to implement the EU enlargement policy in the Western Balkans, Fule noted ahead of his visit.

The EU wants closer ties with Serbia, said the commissioner, adding that he will use the visit to discuss Serbia's economic and political reforms, according to an announcement by the EU Delegation to Serbia.

"In December"

Serbian Deputy PM Božidar Đelić once again stated on Monday that Serbia wants the December EU summit to grant it EU candidate status, and allow the country to start membership negotiations.

"We will present to Mr. Fule what Serbia has been doing, especially when it comes to the action plan that the government adopted in December of last year," said he.

Serbian officials, including President Boris Tadić, have repeatedly stated that in order to meet the end-of-year deadline when it comes to EU candidate status, Serbia must by June adopt laws related to political party financing, restitution, and blank MP resignations.

Importance of education

President Boris Tadić opened the conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Tempus program, an EU project aimed at modernizing higher education in Eu partner countries.

Lack of investments in education lowers the living standard and makes it more difficult for people to find employment, said the president.

It is extremely important for the higher education system to suit the needs of the economy and stimulate employment, because that speeds up development, he stressed.

"Academic education and science are among the key driving forces behind our civilization's development, and those societies that invest in education and science have a chance of reaching the highest level of development and technological achievements," Tadić stated.

The Tempus program is a great step forward for the EU because of the significance of compatible school systems, Tadić noted.

Large differences in development levels are a security problem as well, so investments in education result in better security, he argued.

The Tempus program focuses on eastern Europe, central Asia, Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region and promotes cooperation between universities in order to modernize academic education.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule attended the ceremony today to say that projects of the kind build bridges between Belgrade and Brussels.

Fule underlined at the opening of the conference that such projects and education are important for the achievement of Serbia's strategic goal i.e. EU accession.

Education has a key role in the economic development, and such projects form close ties in cooperation and knowledge exchange between various countries, the high EU official said.

According to him, exchange of students is very important for transition from autocracy to democracy, promotion of the democratic values of the EU, and development of good neighborly relations.

The participants of the two-day conference were also addressed by Director of the EuropeAid Development and Co-operation Directorate-General at the European Commission Francesca Mosca, who said that the EU has come to realize that education is one of crucial factors in fight against poverty and development of economy.