“Serbia has limited time to make progress”

BELGRADE French Ambassador Francois Xavier Deniau believes Serbia is closer to a date for the start of the EU accession talks after the latest round of the dialogue. He also said that Brussels’ decision would depend on the realization of achieved agreements. “Serbia has limited time to make progress” “The dialogue on the political level so far produced positive results,” Deniau told reporters during a break at the final meeting within the twinning project on adjustment of Serbia's judiciary in the sector of transport to relevant EU laws. According to the French ambassador, the meeting between Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and High EU Representative Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Tuesday made room for talks on very important matters concerning Serbian institutions in Kosovo with a strong intention for the participants in the meeting to meet again in early March with a view to making some progress on the issue. The French ambassador qualified this as positive since the two sides were discussing issues which were not even viewed as a matter of consideration several months ago. According to him, it is positive that the government insists on matters important for the everyday life of Serbs in Kosovo. When asked by reporters whether Serbia was now closer to getting a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks, Deniau replied that in his opinion it was but added that everyone should wait and see first what tangible results the dialogue would produce and whether these would be carried out. Stressing that the European Commission should present a report on Serbia's progress in April while the EU Council of Ministers would adopt the decision on the date in late June, the ambassador stated that there was enough time to achieve and implement agreements, adding that “this is just a matter of political will”. Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert assessed that important steps had been made at the recent meeting between Dacic and Thaci in Brussels but stressed that Serbia had “limited time” to implement the reached agreements if it wanted to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations in June. “We have limited time ahead of us to achieve visible and sustainable progress,” he told reporters. Degert noted that it was “very good” that Dacic and Thaci had talked to Ashton in Brussels on Tuesday but pointed out that all agreements needed to be implemented. “I think important steps have been made, including the fact that they decided to meet again soon, which in my opinion, is very positive. Now we have to be convinced that things are being realized in a concrete manner and this is something we expect and something we will monitor,” the head of the EU delegation stated. He reiterated that Brussels also expected agreements on energy, telecommunications, liaison officers and the integrated crossings management to be implemented. Degert said that the reform process must not be neglected either and that progress needed to be made in reforms of judiciary and public administration, combat against corruption and antidiscrimination. “Time is limited. We know that the (European) Commission will present its report on April 16 that will be a foundation for 27 member states to make a decision, sometimes taking into account the opinion of their parliaments,” he explained. When asked if there was enough time to solve all sensitive issues, including the situation in northern Kosovo, Degert said: “If there is a will of both sides to make progress in that direction, then they will be able to reach an adequate agreement”. Vincent Degert and Francois Xavier Deniau (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

“Serbia has limited time to make progress”

“The dialogue on the political level so far produced positive results,” Deniau told reporters during a break at the final meeting within the twinning project on adjustment of Serbia's judiciary in the sector of transport to relevant EU laws.

According to the French ambassador, the meeting between Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and High EU Representative Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Tuesday made room for talks on very important matters concerning Serbian institutions in Kosovo with a strong intention for the participants in the meeting to meet again in early March with a view to making some progress on the issue.

The French ambassador qualified this as positive since the two sides were discussing issues which were not even viewed as a matter of consideration several months ago. According to him, it is positive that the government insists on matters important for the everyday life of Serbs in Kosovo.

When asked by reporters whether Serbia was now closer to getting a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks, Deniau replied that in his opinion it was but added that everyone should wait and see first what tangible results the dialogue would produce and whether these would be carried out.

Stressing that the European Commission should present a report on Serbia's progress in April while the EU Council of Ministers would adopt the decision on the date in late June, the ambassador stated that there was enough time to achieve and implement agreements, adding that “this is just a matter of political will”.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert assessed that important steps had been made at the recent meeting between Dačić and Thaci in Brussels but stressed that Serbia had “limited time” to implement the reached agreements if it wanted to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations in June.

“We have limited time ahead of us to achieve visible and sustainable progress,” he told reporters.

Degert noted that it was “very good” that Dačić and Thaci had talked to Ashton in Brussels on Tuesday but pointed out that all agreements needed to be implemented.

“I think important steps have been made, including the fact that they decided to meet again soon, which in my opinion, is very positive. Now we have to be convinced that things are being realized in a concrete manner and this is something we expect and something we will monitor,” the head of the EU delegation stated.

He reiterated that Brussels also expected agreements on energy, telecommunications, liaison officers and the integrated crossings management to be implemented.

Degert said that the reform process must not be neglected either and that progress needed to be made in reforms of judiciary and public administration, combat against corruption and antidiscrimination.

“Time is limited. We know that the (European) Commission will present its report on April 16 that will be a foundation for 27 member states to make a decision, sometimes taking into account the opinion of their parliaments,” he explained.

When asked if there was enough time to solve all sensitive issues, including the situation in northern Kosovo, Degert said:

“If there is a will of both sides to make progress in that direction, then they will be able to reach an adequate agreement”.