"Croatia not expected to veto opening of chapters"

"Croatia not expected to veto opening of chapters"

She told the Vecernje Novosti daily that "Serbia aims to accelerate the reform process."

"It is not our aim to list dates and break records, but to speed up the reform process, establish action plans for areas (chapters) 23 and 24, continue dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in order to untie the knot formed around chapter 35 (on Kosovo)," Joksimovic added.

She then rejected the criticism coming from German Ambassador Heinz Wilhelm. who earlier this week said the Serbian government often uses the notion of EU's enlargement fatigue - which he said did not exists - as an excuse.

"On the contrary, we do things that no other candidate country does, especially in the field of the economy. Our main motive is not membership, but to reform our society. And it is up to the EU to recognize and accept us as a desirable partner," she was quoted as saying.

Commenting on a resolution on Serbia that should be adopted next week by the European Parliament, and into which Croatia is trying to incorporate a number of new conditions for Belgrade, Joksimovic said she would travel to Strasbourg "where she will present additional arguments regarding Serbia's position."

"I expect the final text to be balanced. Many Croatian amendments have been rejected because they were unfounded. Serbian Prime Minister Vucic showed several times, even by attending the inauguration of the new Croatian president, that we are committed to building a better relationship," she said.

Joksimovic added that Croatia "is not expected to veto the opening of chapters" but that she expects "occasional obstacles" from that country.

She noted that Serbia was receiving about EUR 200 million in grants every year through EU accession funds and was the first country in the region that signed an agreement to use IPA 2 funds, "which includes EUR 1.5 billion in assistance over the next seven years."

"These funds will go to the rule of law, transport infrastructure, agriculture, civil service and public finance reforms, energy and the environment," said Joksimovic.