"Serbia’s EU talks date won't be discussed in December”

BELGRADE Italian Ambassador to Serbia Armando Varricchio says European Council will not discuss granting of a date for the start of the EU talks for Serbia in December. According to him, the main topics will be the economy and the EU’s new financial program, while the enlargement will not be discussed. "Serbia’s EU talks date won't be discussed in December” The Italian ambassador told daily Vecernje novosti that Belgrade would “be praised for positive steps made in the reform process and the dialogue with Pristina“. “The European Council will in December have many issues on the agenda. Those will primarily be the economy and EU’s new financial program. There won’t be much talk about the enlargement. In any case, the heads of EU states and governments will comment on the European Commission’s report on Serbia’s progress,” he was quoted as saying. “This will be a good foundation for the future, more concrete discussion at the top of the EU, already at the European Council meeting next spring. Serbia will then have an opportunity to present concrete results in all issues,” he pointed out. The ambassador repeated that the continuation of the dialogue with Pristina was very important and that it was “not only in Serbia and Pristina’s interest but in the interest of the entire Europe”. “Not only Italy, but other European countries really have a great confidence in what Serbia is doing. And the new authorities have repeated that the EU integration is one their basic goals, as well as to continue reforms and finish them,” Varricchio stressed. When asked what final formulation of the European Council would be, he said that one should not pay so much attention to it. “The perspective Serbia has is much more important. Once concrete results have been presented, I am sure that heads of EU states and governments will be more than ready to grant Serbia the date (for the beginning of the EU talks),” he explained. He underscored that Serbia’s date for the start of the EU negotiations would not be on the agenda. “It is not that important whether the date will be granted in December or in the beginning of the next year. It is much more important to implement reforms because it is in Serbia’s interest. Serbia is not going to some court December to wait for the verdict,” Varricchio stressed. He does not believe that the EU has double standards when it comes to Serbia and Kosovo “because everybody has the same goal and that is to give the maximal contribution to the finding of a solution for the Kosovo issue”. The Italian ambassador stressed that the final solution “is not to impose recognition of Kosovo’s independence on Serbia”. Vecernje novosti

"Serbia’s EU talks date won't be discussed in December”

The Italian ambassador told daily Večernje novosti that Belgrade would “be praised for positive steps made in the reform process and the dialogue with Priština“.

“The European Council will in December have many issues on the agenda. Those will primarily be the economy and EU’s new financial program. There won’t be much talk about the enlargement. In any case, the heads of EU states and governments will comment on the European Commission’s report on Serbia’s progress,” he was quoted as saying.

“This will be a good foundation for the future, more concrete discussion at the top of the EU, already at the European Council meeting next spring. Serbia will then have an opportunity to present concrete results in all issues,” he pointed out.

The ambassador repeated that the continuation of the dialogue with Priština was very important and that it was “not only in Serbia and Priština’s interest but in the interest of the entire Europe”.

“Not only Italy, but other European countries really have a great confidence in what Serbia is doing. And the new authorities have repeated that the EU integration is one their basic goals, as well as to continue reforms and finish them,” Varricchio stressed.

When asked what final formulation of the European Council would be, he said that one should not pay so much attention to it.

“The perspective Serbia has is much more important. Once concrete results have been presented, I am sure that heads of EU states and governments will be more than ready to grant Serbia the date (for the beginning of the EU talks),” he explained.

He underscored that Serbia’s date for the start of the EU negotiations would not be on the agenda.

“It is not that important whether the date will be granted in December or in the beginning of the next year. It is much more important to implement reforms because it is in Serbia’s interest. Serbia is not going to some court December to wait for the verdict,” Varricchio stressed.

He does not believe that the EU has double standards when it comes to Serbia and Kosovo “because everybody has the same goal and that is to give the maximal contribution to the finding of a solution for the Kosovo issue”.

The Italian ambassador stressed that the final solution “is not to impose recognition of Kosovo’s independence on Serbia”.