EU to reiterate support to Serbia

EU ministers will next week reaffirm Serbia’s prospects of accelerating her path to the EU and gaining candidate status. In a joint declaration from the meeting of EU ministers in Brussels next week seen by Beta “the formation of a new Serbian government with a clear European agenda is commended.“ EU to reiterate support to Serbia Together with a call to Belgrade to “embody its commitment to the European aim“, EU ministers will stress that this means the Serbian government “engaging constructively in the process of stabilization and association.“ The document continues by saying that “expectations are also expressed that the new government will maintain positive relations with the EU and its member-states, and develop a constructive approach to EU efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkan region.“ The joint declaration to be discussed by European foreign ministers also highlights the “support to dialogue on visa liberalization for Serbia“. Sources from the EU Council of Ministers add that on the day of the meeting, they expect the presence of Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in Brussels, who is due to consult with European officials. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU integration Bozidar Djelic said late on Thursday that Serbia's goal remained attaining EU candidate status by the end of the year. Speaking to Pink Television, Djelic said that the ideal and first realistic year for Serbia's EU integration was 2014 after the Lisbon Agreement came into effect, and that Serbia would be ready for membership in 2012. He said that if there was good will within the European Union, Serbia could receive candidate status during the French EU presidency, specifically at the last EU Council this year on December 11-12. The minister said that Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz would be coming to Belgrade on July 23, and that Serbia had operational cooperation with the Tribunal. If Brammertz presents this assessment before the EU Council of Ministers on September 15-16, a decision on the implementation of the provisional trade agreement between Serbia and the EU could be taken then, he added. B92, archive

EU to reiterate support to Serbia

Together with a call to Belgrade to “embody its commitment to the European aim“, EU ministers will stress that this means the Serbian government “engaging constructively in the process of stabilization and association.“

The document continues by saying that “expectations are also expressed that the new government will maintain positive relations with the EU and its member-states, and develop a constructive approach to EU efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkan region.“

The joint declaration to be discussed by European foreign ministers also highlights the “support to dialogue on visa liberalization for Serbia“.

Sources from the EU Council of Ministers add that on the day of the meeting, they expect the presence of Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić in Brussels, who is due to consult with European officials.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU integration Božidar Đelić said late on Thursday that Serbia's goal remained attaining EU candidate status by the end of the year.

Speaking to Pink Television, Đelić said that the ideal and first realistic year for Serbia's EU integration was 2014 after the Lisbon Agreement came into effect, and that Serbia would be ready for membership in 2012.

He said that if there was good will within the European Union, Serbia could receive candidate status during the French EU presidency, specifically at the last EU Council this year on December 11-12.

The minister said that Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz would be coming to Belgrade on July 23, and that Serbia had operational cooperation with the Tribunal.

If Brammertz presents this assessment before the EU Council of Ministers on September 15-16, a decision on the implementation of the provisional trade agreement between Serbia and the EU could be taken then, he added.