Đelić: New EU momentum created

Serbia is one step away from the Schengen white visa list, and a new parliamentary rhythm and commitment has been established, says Bozidar Djelic. There is no doubt that Serbia will apply for candidate status when the time is right and in cooperation with its European partners, said the deputy prime minister. Djelic: New EU momentum created He explained that, in order to submit its application, Serbia had to receive formal approval for application of the Stabilization and Association Agreement “at least some day.” “The only definite way for the SAA to be applied is to arrest and extradite the two remaining Hague fugitives,” said Djelic. Presenting the results of the work of his cabinet and the European Integration Office over the last year, the minister said that he expected the European Commission to adopt a legal basis for the recommendation to scrap visas for Serbian citizens as early as tomorrow. According to Djelic, the EU Council of Ministers will then, at its summit in November or December, rubber-stamp the decision to include Serbia on the Schengen white visa list starting from January 1 next year. The minister said that that procedure should be such that, together with a draft law to be proposed by European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, Serbia would receive a letter on the EC recommendations outlining what still needed to be done. Another technical visit was due in the autumn, he said, adding, it was important to continue conducting reforms even after the EC’s decision on visas. Djelic said that Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica was attempting to turn one of the most positive things that citizens had been waiting for since 1992 into something that it was not. “Tomorrow we expect the full contents of the decision, but it’s certain that Serbia will never recognize so-called Kosovo, neither directly, nor indirectly,“ the minister said, adding that all Serbian citizens would be able to receive biometric passports, wherever they lived. “Over the last 12 months, Serbia has begun application of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU, without major consequences for Serbian finances. The National Integration Program (NPI) has been adopted in the EU,” he said, adding that a report would adopted on Thursday, quoting a 70 percent NPI success rate in June. “The EU is a key strategic financial partner for Serbia. Funds worth EUR 585mn have been earmarked within the IPA fund framework, non-returnable budget support of EUR 100mn has been received, while the union is contributing 80 percent of its own funds to the construction of Corridor 10,” said Djelic. Milica Delevic, the head of the European Integration Office, said that the report on NPI obligations, would show that the Serbian parliament had been the absolute leader in meeting obligations in the second quarter. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet, archive)

Đelić: New EU momentum created

He explained that, in order to submit its application, Serbia had to receive formal approval for application of the Stabilization and Association Agreement “at least some day.”

“The only definite way for the SAA to be applied is to arrest and extradite the two remaining Hague fugitives,” said Đelić.

Presenting the results of the work of his cabinet and the European Integration Office over the last year, the minister said that he expected the European Commission to adopt a legal basis for the recommendation to scrap visas for Serbian citizens as early as tomorrow.

According to Đelić, the EU Council of Ministers will then, at its summit in November or December, rubber-stamp the decision to include Serbia on the Schengen white visa list starting from January 1 next year.

The minister said that that procedure should be such that, together with a draft law to be proposed by European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, Serbia would receive a letter on the EC recommendations outlining what still needed to be done.

Another technical visit was due in the autumn, he said, adding, it was important to continue conducting reforms even after the EC’s decision on visas.

Đelić said that Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Koštunica was attempting to turn one of the most positive things that citizens had been waiting for since 1992 into something that it was not.

“Tomorrow we expect the full contents of the decision, but it’s certain that Serbia will never recognize so-called Kosovo, neither directly, nor indirectly,“ the minister said, adding that all Serbian citizens would be able to receive biometric passports, wherever they lived.

“Over the last 12 months, Serbia has begun application of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU, without major consequences for Serbian finances. The National Integration Program (NPI) has been adopted in the EU,” he said, adding that a report would adopted on Thursday, quoting a 70 percent NPI success rate in June.

“The EU is a key strategic financial partner for Serbia. Funds worth EUR 585mn have been earmarked within the IPA fund framework, non-returnable budget support of EUR 100mn has been received, while the union is contributing 80 percent of its own funds to the construction of Corridor 10,” said Đelić.

Milica Delević, the head of the European Integration Office, said that the report on NPI obligations, would show that the Serbian parliament had been the absolute leader in meeting obligations in the second quarter.