EU requires Serbia to "gradually harmonize policies"

EU requires Serbia to "gradually harmonize policies"

This was stated in the conclusions adopted after Tuesday's discussion about the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland, emphasizing a high level of readiness of Serbian authorities to open the EU membership negotiations chapter on the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

The conclusions, however, did not indicate when the first chapter may be opened.

It was also said that Serbia must, in accordance with the recommendations agreed on by the European Commission, develop an action plan for the implementation of the conditions for the opening of chapters 23 and 24.

"The Council of Ministers urges Serbia to gradually harmonize its own with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, as part of the Negotiating Framework (EU-Serbia)," states the final document of the meeting, although not specifically mentioning EU's sanctions against Russia.

Officials at the meeting told the Beta agency about the unanimous view of the EU ministers that Belgrade is "not required to immediately comply with the foreign policy positions of the EU, which refers to sanctions against Russia", but that this harmonization, even if the sanctions remain in force until then, should be "completely aligned to the EU policy by the moment Serbia finalizes negotiations and is on the threshold of the Union."

"No one denies that EU members can have good relations with Russia, but the sanctions were unanimously adopted as a tool to persuade Moscow to respect the established legal order in Europe," said these sources.

The conclusions stressed that Serbian authorities "must pay attention to the reform of public administration and implement economic and structural reforms in order to reestablish budgetary sustainability and thus provide support for (economic) growth and employment".

The ministers "underlined the need for Serbia to maintain in practice constructive engagement in the process of normalization with Kosovo, in which significant progress was made."

"The Council of Ministers of the EU will continue to closely monitor the engagement of Serbia towards a visible and lasting progress in the improvement of relations with Kosovo, including the implementation of the agreements reached in good faith, so that Serbia and Kosovo can continue on respective paths to Europe, with neither hindering the other in these efforts and to fulfill their own responsibilities," the document says.

"The Council of Ministers recalls that progress in normalizing relations with Kosovo within the framework of Chapter 35 (membership negotiations with the EU), must go along with the progress in the overall negotiations and must be opened immediately, in the initial stage," the agency reported.

In the final document of the meeting the Serbian government is asked to ensure "effective, independent judiciary and results in fighting corruption and organized crime", while special attention is required for fundamental freedoms.

EU's ministers "expressed concern over the worsening of conditions for full freedom of expression" and underline the necessity to improve business conditions and investments.