"Chapters 23, 24, 35 to be opened first"

"Chapters 23, 24, 35 to be opened first"

According to her, "Serbia's goal to be ready for EU membership by the end of 2018."

Milenkovic told Belgrade-based broadcaster Pink that "technically speaking, chapter 23 regarding financial and budget control is also ready to be opened among the first."

She noted that chapters 23 and 24 relate to judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security, which in Serbia's case also relates to Chapter 35 on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Milenkovic explained that whether Serbia would join the EU in 2018 is "another question" - as that is a political decision of the bloc - "but it is important for Serbia to have a plan for meeting all the criteria along the path, primarily those relating to the harmonization of its legislation to the acquis."

Serbia "must pursue its goal embodied in prompt opening of accession talks and added that there are several points at which the talks may be initiated in 2015,"she said.

Milenkovic said that during the Monday conference entitled "Friends of Serbia" good will was demonstrated by the EU which does not see Serbia only as a partner but also as its future member.

The meeting focused on three elements - one embodied in the presentation of reforms Serbia is implementing, another being the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in which Serbia played a constructive role, while the third topic covered regional cooperation in which Serbia achieved good results, she said.

Asked about the Tuesday visit of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Berlin, Milenkovic noted that every contact with EU members is important, but she added that Germany's stands towards Serbia's EU progress are specific and stricter.

The talks with relevant factors on the German political scene can only help achieve the consensus within the EU, including Germany, which will lead to the opening of chapters for Serbia, she noted.