EC sends open message to Belgrade

The EC has, for the first time, told Serbia that it will receive candidate status and accede to the Schengen white list in 2009 if all the conditions are met. Serbia must complete cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and meet the conditions on its Road Map towards visa liberalization, the European Commission (EC) stated. EC sends open message to Belgrade Serbia is one of two countries that the EC said could make the Schengen white list if it fulfills its administrative conditions. Negotiations with the EC have been running for ten months. Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that he could not guarantee that this would certainly happen next year, but he said that Serbia would do its utmost to make it a reality. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Prague that the interim agreement needed to be unfrozen as soon as possible, and that Serbia and the upcoming Czech EU presidency would work hard together to secure EU candidate status for Serbia. However, free travel through Europe and candidate status will probably not happen until 2010, according to sources in Brussels. Hague cooperation and reforms are not the only obstacles in Serbia’s path, as the situation in the EU also poses a problem. The unexpected economic crisis, next year’s European Parliamentary elections and the Irish “no” to the Lisbon Treaty all hamper Serbia’s chances of achieving its goals in 2009. Djelic told a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration that Belgrade expected Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to give a positive report on Serbia’s cooperation. A positive report from Brammertz would be the basis for beginning ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the implementation of the Interim Agreement. Djelic reiterated that Serbia would never allow its European integration to depend on its recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet)

EC sends open message to Belgrade

Serbia is one of two countries that the EC said could make the Schengen white list if it fulfills its administrative conditions.

Negotiations with the EC have been running for ten months.

Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić said that he could not guarantee that this would certainly happen next year, but he said that Serbia would do its utmost to make it a reality.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said in Prague that the interim agreement needed to be unfrozen as soon as possible, and that Serbia and the upcoming Czech EU presidency would work hard together to secure EU candidate status for Serbia.

However, free travel through Europe and candidate status will probably not happen until 2010, according to sources in Brussels.

Hague cooperation and reforms are not the only obstacles in Serbia’s path, as the situation in the EU also poses a problem.

The unexpected economic crisis, next year’s European Parliamentary elections and the Irish “no” to the Lisbon Treaty all hamper Serbia’s chances of achieving its goals in 2009.

Đelić told a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration that Belgrade expected Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to give a positive report on Serbia’s cooperation.

A positive report from Brammertz would be the basis for beginning ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the implementation of the Interim Agreement.

Đelić reiterated that Serbia would never allow its European integration to depend on its recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence.