"Serbia moving assuredly toward European goal"

Serbia is moving assuredly toward her European goal, says the outgoing chief of the European Commission delegation in Belgrade, Josep Lloveras. The Spanish diplomat is leaving Serbia after five years here, and told B92 in a farewell interview that he believes Serbia is on the EU path, that visas will in fact be abolished in January of next year, and that a feasibility study for EU integration that is being produced for Kosovo has nothing to do with the province's status. "Serbia moving assuredly toward European goal" Serbia is like the Danube, said Lloveras, it seems to be moving slowly, but is on the other hand moving confidently toward its goal. Although the citizens believe that the EU integration process must go faster, Lloveras reminds that significant progress has been made after all. "When I came here, it was less than four years after the democratic changes and less than a year after the murder of Premier Djindjic. The Stabilization and Association Agreement was not talked about because of a lack of cooperation with the Hague [Tribunal], there was fear that Montenegro's separation would cause a crisis, and then the proclamation of Kosovo's independence would jeopardize Serbia's European perspective," reminded the EC delegation chief. "All of that is now in the past. The democratic institutions are functioning despite everything. And look at the visas too. Five years ago, nobody even thought that they would travel without visas starting January next year." "I think, therefore, that much has changed. Serbia is now like the Danube – moving assuredly toward the European Union. I have no doubt about that," stated Lloveras. He also noted that as far as EU integration is concerned, there is a far wider consensus on the political level than four years ago. The diplomat also explained his own statement about Kosovo's European future and a feasibility study that Brussels is due to publish in the fall. "Kosovo has a European perspective, just as the whole region. The study has no connection to the status, only with the fact we do not wish to have 'black holes' in the region." "We wish that the whole region moves toward the EU, to improve the lives of ordinary people, strengthen the economy. For this reason the commission will produce the feasibility study for Kosovo, which should be ready in the fall, to appraise further European progress of Kosovo," Lloveras continued. Asked whether the study mentions "independent Kosovo", he said: "I cannot tell you what it will look like, but I think this is about a report that is status-neutral." "I must say that the EU has not recognized Kosovo, it is not our job. Our members decide on that, and as you know, they have different positions," he stated. Lloveras advises continued reforms as the best way to alleviate the effects of the economic crisis, and has this message for his successor: "I would tell him that they will learn much more spending one day somewhere in Serbia, than in the office with the papers. I would tell him to talk to people as much as possible, and those from the country, I believe he'd enjoy that." "When it comes to Serbia's European integrations I would tell him – be as patient as the job requires, but also as impatient as Serbia is on that road," Lloveras, who is unofficially likely to be replaced by a French diplomat, concluded. A file photo of Josep Lloveras (FoNet)

"Serbia moving assuredly toward European goal"

Serbia is like the Danube, said Lloveras, it seems to be moving slowly, but is on the other hand moving confidently toward its goal.

Although the citizens believe that the EU integration process must go faster, Lloveras reminds that significant progress has been made after all.

"When I came here, it was less than four years after the democratic changes and less than a year after the murder of Premier Đinđić. The Stabilization and Association Agreement was not talked about because of a lack of cooperation with the Hague [Tribunal], there was fear that Montenegro's separation would cause a crisis, and then the proclamation of Kosovo's independence would jeopardize Serbia's European perspective," reminded the EC delegation chief.

"All of that is now in the past. The democratic institutions are functioning despite everything. And look at the visas too. Five years ago, nobody even thought that they would travel without visas starting January next year."

"I think, therefore, that much has changed. Serbia is now like the Danube – moving assuredly toward the European Union. I have no doubt about that," stated Lloveras.

He also noted that as far as EU integration is concerned, there is a far wider consensus on the political level than four years ago.

The diplomat also explained his own statement about Kosovo's European future and a feasibility study that Brussels is due to publish in the fall.

"Kosovo has a European perspective, just as the whole region. The study has no connection to the status, only with the fact we do not wish to have 'black holes' in the region."

"We wish that the whole region moves toward the EU, to improve the lives of ordinary people, strengthen the economy. For this reason the commission will produce the feasibility study for Kosovo, which should be ready in the fall, to appraise further European progress of Kosovo," Lloveras continued.

Asked whether the study mentions "independent Kosovo", he said: "I cannot tell you what it will look like, but I think this is about a report that is status-neutral."

"I must say that the EU has not recognized Kosovo, it is not our job. Our members decide on that, and as you know, they have different positions," he stated.

Lloveras advises continued reforms as the best way to alleviate the effects of the economic crisis, and has this message for his successor:

"I would tell him that they will learn much more spending one day somewhere in Serbia, than in the office with the papers. I would tell him to talk to people as much as possible, and those from the country, I believe he'd enjoy that."

"When it comes to Serbia's European integrations I would tell him – be as patient as the job requires, but also as impatient as Serbia is on that road," Lloveras, who is unofficially likely to be replaced by a French diplomat, concluded.