EU anger at Jeremić stance

EU ambassadors and officials in Belgrade have rebuked Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic for his outspoken criticism of the European Union. EU officials say that Brussels is doing more than enough to show support for Serbia on its European integration path. EU anger at Jeremic stance Jeremic recently told German daily Der Spiegel that “Serbia’s membership in the European Union has been put on ice,” adding that the Union “has not shown any kind of positive signal to Serbia since the arrest of Radovan Karadzic.” French Ambassador to Belgrade Jean-Francois Terral said that Serbia had been permanently involved in European integration ever since the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was signed. “First we must say that we’re in a process that is continually progressing and you can’t expect a new decision every moment. As far as Serbia and the EU are concerned, we feel that Serbia is now on the European path and has been since signing the SAA. That is the first step and there is no turning back when you take such a step,” Terral said. Josep Lloveras, head of the European Commission delegation to Serbia, said that progress should not be looked at only from the point of view of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, but all of Serbia’s successes. “I believe we are sending positive signals. We have to take into consideration a broader spectrum of things, not just relations between two countries. We have to bear in mind not only Tribunal cooperation, but Serbian progress towards the EU. I think that this path is unstoppable,” he said. Jeremic also came in for flak during Thursday’s debate on the Western Balkans at the European Parliament. Of late, Jeremic’s stinging criticism of the EU and the U.S. has reportedly prompted indignation among EU member-state ministers and ambassadors, though none have made their views public as yet.

EU anger at Jeremić stance

Jeremić recently told German daily Der Spiegel that “Serbia’s membership in the European Union has been put on ice,” adding that the Union “has not shown any kind of positive signal to Serbia since the arrest of Radovan Karadžić.”

French Ambassador to Belgrade Jean-Francois Terral said that Serbia had been permanently involved in European integration ever since the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was signed.

“First we must say that we’re in a process that is continually progressing and you can’t expect a new decision every moment. As far as Serbia and the EU are concerned, we feel that Serbia is now on the European path and has been since signing the SAA. That is the first step and there is no turning back when you take such a step,” Terral said.

Josep Lloveras, head of the European Commission delegation to Serbia, said that progress should not be looked at only from the point of view of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, but all of Serbia’s successes.

“I believe we are sending positive signals. We have to take into consideration a broader spectrum of things, not just relations between two countries. We have to bear in mind not only Tribunal cooperation, but Serbian progress towards the EU. I think that this path is unstoppable,” he said.

Jeremić also came in for flak during Thursday’s debate on the Western Balkans at the European Parliament.

Of late, Jeremić’s stinging criticism of the EU and the U.S. has reportedly prompted indignation among EU member-state ministers and ambassadors, though none have made their views public as yet.