EP adopts resolution on Serbia's progress

European Parliament (EP) adopted Thursday a resolution on Serbia’s progress in the EU integration process. The resolution states that Serbia should be given a date for the beginning of the accession talks with the EU as soon as possible but also urges Serbia to refrain from calling the local elections in Kosovo. EP adopts resolution on Serbia's progress The Resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of a total of 754 votes “for” and only 49 “against”, and only one amendment, out of 12 adopted, changes the initial draft of the resolution and refers to local elections in Kosovo. The amendment was submitted by EP Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin. According to the amendment, the calling of local elections would be against the international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Most of the adopted amendments are technical. The draft resolution, based on a report by Kacin, has garnered support from the majority of EP members, including leaders of the three biggest parliamentary groups - progressive, socialist and liberal - all of whom stressed that Serbia needs to normalize relations with Kosovo and intensify its reform and anti-corruption efforts. The draft resolution on Serbia includes positive assessment of the country's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, internal reforms, and improvements in regional cooperation. It also notes certain weak points, primarily in relation to the reform of the justice system, position of the media, and treatment of national and sexual minorities. During Wednesday's EP meeting, Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen, whose country is currently presiding over the EU, and European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule both expressed expectation that Belgrade would meet the key requirement for accession talks, that is continuing the dialogue with Pristina and making progress. The EP will today also vote on draft resolutions on Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo. The draft resolutions based on the annual progress reports had previously gone through a comprehensive debate in the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, where they won a majority of votes. The European Parliament (FoNet, file) Tanjug

EP adopts resolution on Serbia's progress

The Resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of a total of 754 votes “for” and only 49 “against”, and only one amendment, out of 12 adopted, changes the initial draft of the resolution and refers to local elections in Kosovo. The amendment was submitted by EP Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin.

According to the amendment, the calling of local elections would be against the international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Most of the adopted amendments are technical.

The draft resolution, based on a report by Kacin, has garnered support from the majority of EP members, including leaders of the three biggest parliamentary groups - progressive, socialist and liberal - all of whom stressed that Serbia needs to normalize relations with Kosovo and intensify its reform and anti-corruption efforts.

The draft resolution on Serbia includes positive assessment of the country's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, internal reforms, and improvements in regional cooperation.

It also notes certain weak points, primarily in relation to the reform of the justice system, position of the media, and treatment of national and sexual minorities.

During Wednesday's EP meeting, Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen, whose country is currently presiding over the EU, and European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule both expressed expectation that Belgrade would meet the key requirement for accession talks, that is continuing the dialogue with Priština and making progress.

The EP will today also vote on draft resolutions on Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo.

The draft resolutions based on the annual progress reports had previously gone through a comprehensive debate in the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, where they won a majority of votes.