Belgrade hosts EU integrations conference

Belgrade is hosting a conference dedicated to EU integrations today, with the date for Serbia to apply for membership expected to be one of the topics. The gathering brought together representatives of regional parliamentary committees for EU integration. Belgrade hosts EU integrations conference EC Director for Western Balkans Pierre Mirel and EP rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin also participated. EU officials said that Serbia should submit its application for EU candidacy only after consultations with the European Commission, but must complete several steps before that. Kacin told a press conference that he had heard statements from Belgrade officials that they were planning on applying for candidacy by the end of the year, and that all those statements were "coming only from one party". “It is a question of Serbia’s future and that question must first be answered by the coalition, and then the government, but the process must include the opposition as well. It is not only the submission of an application, but of getting a positive answer which will strengthen the pro-European forces, and strengthen the ambitions of the region for speeding up this process,” Kacin said. Kacin said that the application must not be “the step that slows down, but the one that speeds up Serbia’s integration.” He added that the application should not be rushed, and that several more steps are needed beforehand.” Kacin went on to say that Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia "abolished visas for themselves" with their reforms and efforts, and that he hoped that the same can be done by Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the coming six months. Pierre Mirel said that the application for membership needs to be submitted after consultations with the EU presidency and the European Commission. “I do not see how 27 countries of the EU could discuss an application if the interim agreement is still blocked,” Mirel said, in reference to the trade deal that is part of the suspended SAA, signed by Belgrade and Brussels over a year and a half ago, and blocked by the Netherlands. The interim agreement with Serbia could be unfrozen if the report of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz on Serbia’s cooperation is positive, Mirel said. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic also spoke to say that the interim trade agreement could take effect in early December, adding that Serbia is fully cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Ahead of the gathering today, the host, Chairman of the Serbian Parliament European Integrations Committee Laslo Varga, told B92 that "one of the central issues for Kacin" will be "why he believes the time is not right for Serbia to submit its candidate status application". He added that representatives from other countries is the region will try to make a good impression on the EU and European Parliament (EP) representatives who will be in attendance, "because they are the politicians in the union who decide on candidatures". Varga agreed that since Croatia and Macedonia, "who are ahead of us" are participating, it will be an opportunity for Serbia to "ask for advice".

Belgrade hosts EU integrations conference

EC Director for Western Balkans Pierre Mirel and EP rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin also participated.

EU officials said that Serbia should submit its application for EU candidacy only after consultations with the European Commission, but must complete several steps before that.

Kacin told a press conference that he had heard statements from Belgrade officials that they were planning on applying for candidacy by the end of the year, and that all those statements were "coming only from one party".

“It is a question of Serbia’s future and that question must first be answered by the coalition, and then the government, but the process must include the opposition as well. It is not only the submission of an application, but of getting a positive answer which will strengthen the pro-European forces, and strengthen the ambitions of the region for speeding up this process,” Kacin said.

Kacin said that the application must not be “the step that slows down, but the one that speeds up Serbia’s integration.”

He added that the application should not be rushed, and that several more steps are needed beforehand.”

Kacin went on to say that Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia "abolished visas for themselves" with their reforms and efforts, and that he hoped that the same can be done by Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the coming six months.

Pierre Mirel said that the application for membership needs to be submitted after consultations with the EU presidency and the European Commission.

“I do not see how 27 countries of the EU could discuss an application if the interim agreement is still blocked,” Mirel said, in reference to the trade deal that is part of the suspended SAA, signed by Belgrade and Brussels over a year and a half ago, and blocked by the Netherlands.

The interim agreement with Serbia could be unfrozen if the report of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz on Serbia’s cooperation is positive, Mirel said.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić also spoke to say that the interim trade agreement could take effect in early December, adding that Serbia is fully cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Ahead of the gathering today, the host, Chairman of the Serbian Parliament European Integrations Committee Laslo Varga, told B92 that "one of the central issues for Kacin" will be "why he believes the time is not right for Serbia to submit its candidate status application".

He added that representatives from other countries is the region will try to make a good impression on the EU and European Parliament (EP) representatives who will be in attendance, "because they are the politicians in the union who decide on candidatures".

Varga agreed that since Croatia and Macedonia, "who are ahead of us" are participating, it will be an opportunity for Serbia to "ask for advice".