EP: Long road yet to EU membership

European Parliament officials say that gaining candidate status is not an automatic “green light” for European Union membership. At a debate held in Belgrade yesterday by MEPs on Serbia’s EU integration, the MEPs said that upon receiving candidate status, it was necessary to prepare for years of negotiations before achievement of the ultimate aim—EU membership. EP: Long road yet to EU membership A recent European Commission report stated that visible progress had been made, but that the government had to prove that it was ready for further reform, said the MEPs. EP official Doris Pack said that politicians were in a position to speed up EU accession and had to work fast to fulfill all the conditions set for Serbia. “We do not accept disappointment. I think that you are all aware that you will become European Union members as soon as you finish the job you have begun. If you look at Europe on the map, you will see where the Balkans are located—at the heart of the European Union. None of us would ever say that it was not in our best interests to have all these countries integrated into the EU,” Pack said. “I do not want to say that it will happen in four or six years’ time, but politicians in Serbia must work more quickly, they must get serious and then they will become a part of the Union. It all depends on you,” she underlined. Participants in the debate, many of whom were officials from non-governmental and student organizations, were most interested in the liberalization of the visa regime. European Commission Delegation Chief in Belgrade Josep Lloveras said that achieving candidate status did not automatically mean that the country would be put on the so-called Schengen white list. Doris Pack and Josep Lloveras (Beta)

EP: Long road yet to EU membership

A recent European Commission report stated that visible progress had been made, but that the government had to prove that it was ready for further reform, said the MEPs.

EP official Doris Pack said that politicians were in a position to speed up EU accession and had to work fast to fulfill all the conditions set for Serbia.

“We do not accept disappointment. I think that you are all aware that you will become European Union members as soon as you finish the job you have begun. If you look at Europe on the map, you will see where the Balkans are located—at the heart of the European Union. None of us would ever say that it was not in our best interests to have all these countries integrated into the EU,” Pack said.

“I do not want to say that it will happen in four or six years’ time, but politicians in Serbia must work more quickly, they must get serious and then they will become a part of the Union. It all depends on you,” she underlined.

Participants in the debate, many of whom were officials from non-governmental and student organizations, were most interested in the liberalization of the visa regime.

European Commission Delegation Chief in Belgrade Josep Lloveras said that achieving candidate status did not automatically mean that the country would be put on the so-called Schengen white list.