EU ministers to discuss Serbia in October

Serbia's European integration will be one of the themes at October’s EU Council of Ministers, says Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. However, in response to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s call for an unfreezing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), the Dutch government has said that the prerequisite for this is completion of Hague cooperation. EU ministers to discuss Serbia in October The Italian foreign minister, who met with Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic in Rome, said that he even supported the idea of Serbia submitting its application for EU candidate status by the end of the year. Nonetheless, before taking such a step that has been discussed hypothetically, the EU would have to lift its blockade of Serbia’s EU integration process by unfreezing the SAA. That theme could enter the European ministers’ agenda in a month’s time. Rehn thanked the Serbian government for continuing reforms and unilaterally applying the Interim Trade Agreement. Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Rehn said that Serbia had made progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and that he hoped the EU would hail that progress. “The authorities in Serbia continue to work hard on achieving the necessary reforms. At the same time, Serbia is unilaterally applying the interim trade agreement too, even despite the economic situation,” he said. “Serbia is working on its national European integration program and is seriously setting about meeting its road map conditions. Cooperation with the Hague has also improved. I hope that the EU Council of Ministers will be quick to commend Serbia’s progress and that the Interim Trade Agreement will be unfrozen,” said the commissioner. Rehn announced that the European institutions would be according particular attention to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the coming period. He added that accession talks with Croatia could be concluded in the first half of next year if the necessary conditions were met. Jeremic said that regardless of the varying views on Serbia within Brussels, Belgrade would continue working on EU integration. Holland, which is most opposed to Serbia’s further integration, says that its position is “crystal clear“ and that the Dutch government insists that Hague cooperation be completed before the process is unblocked. Full cooperation, as far as the Dutch are concerned, means the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic. Olli Rehn (Beta, archive)

EU ministers to discuss Serbia in October

The Italian foreign minister, who met with Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić in Rome, said that he even supported the idea of Serbia submitting its application for EU candidate status by the end of the year.

Nonetheless, before taking such a step that has been discussed hypothetically, the EU would have to lift its blockade of Serbia’s EU integration process by unfreezing the SAA.

That theme could enter the European ministers’ agenda in a month’s time.

Rehn thanked the Serbian government for continuing reforms and unilaterally applying the Interim Trade Agreement.

Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Rehn said that Serbia had made progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and that he hoped the EU would hail that progress.

“The authorities in Serbia continue to work hard on achieving the necessary reforms. At the same time, Serbia is unilaterally applying the interim trade agreement too, even despite the economic situation,” he said.

“Serbia is working on its national European integration program and is seriously setting about meeting its road map conditions. Cooperation with the Hague has also improved. I hope that the EU Council of Ministers will be quick to commend Serbia’s progress and that the Interim Trade Agreement will be unfrozen,” said the commissioner.

Rehn announced that the European institutions would be according particular attention to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the coming period.

He added that accession talks with Croatia could be concluded in the first half of next year if the necessary conditions were met.

Jeremić said that regardless of the varying views on Serbia within Brussels, Belgrade would continue working on EU integration.

Holland, which is most opposed to Serbia’s further integration, says that its position is “crystal clear“ and that the Dutch government insists that Hague cooperation be completed before the process is unblocked.

Full cooperation, as far as the Dutch are concerned, means the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladić.