"Serbia could wait until 2014 to get EU talks date"

BELGRADE Serbia could get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks in the first half of 2013 if the European Council gives a positive opinion on December 10. This is according to Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. "Serbia could wait until 2014 to get EU talks date" “If we miss the chance now, elections in Germany are coming and then we can expect to get the negotiations date in 2014,” the prime minister told daily Blic. He repeated that the date for the start of the EU accession negotiations was connected to the Kosovo issue and that Belgrade was expected to implement agreements reached with Pristina. “The first in line is the one on the integrated crossings management on the administrative line which should come to life through pilot projects at the Jarinje and Konculj crossings in the beginning of December,” Dacic was quoted as saying. He added that a condition for the European Council’s positive opinion was fulfillment of criteria, including the implementation of all agreements reached by the previous government. “This is hard for us but we want to continue toward the EU, those agreements need to be implemented,” the prime minister concluded. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) Beta Blic

"Serbia could wait until 2014 to get EU talks date"

“If we miss the chance now, elections in Germany are coming and then we can expect to get the negotiations date in 2014,” the prime minister told daily Blic.

He repeated that the date for the start of the EU accession negotiations was connected to the Kosovo issue and that Belgrade was expected to implement agreements reached with Priština.

“The first in line is the one on the integrated crossings management on the administrative line which should come to life through pilot projects at the Jarinje and Končulj crossings in the beginning of December,” Dačić was quoted as saying.

He added that a condition for the European Council’s positive opinion was fulfillment of criteria, including the implementation of all agreements reached by the previous government.

“This is hard for us but we want to continue toward the EU, those agreements need to be implemented,” the prime minister concluded.