“EU door open, conditions must be fulfilled”

European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schultz says the EU door is open for all candidates, including Serbia, but that conditions must be fulfilled.

Izvor: Beta

Thursday, 28.02.2013.

09:56

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BELGRADE European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schultz says the EU door is open for all candidates, including Serbia, but that conditions must be fulfilled. He told daily Vecernje novosti that Serbia deserved commendation for great progress it had made and that a draft resolution on Serbia rightfully called on the European Council to set a date for the beginning of the accession talks with Serbia as soon as possible. “EU door open, conditions must be fulfilled” However, Schultz added that Serbia needed to continue to implement reforms and conduct a dialogue with Pristina. Commenting on a request to continue normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, he said that relations between “two neighbors are normal when they talk, respect each other and try to peacefully solve disputable issues”. “I hope this will happen as soon as possible because it is very important for both Belgrade and Pristina’s European agenda. But I am aware that the normalization of relations will be a long process. However, I am happy to see that both countries have started the process with the EU integration as a leading principle,” the EP president was quoted as saying. Commenting on his earlier statement that Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo’s independence at the end of its EU pathway, Schultz said that this was his stance and that he did not present any new conditions. “Let us remember that both Belgrade and Pristina want to join the EU some day. And all EU member states need to respect each other and to coexist peacefully,” he stressed. The EP head also expressed belief that Germany was not Serbia’s biggest “opponent” on the EU pathway. “I do not want to comment on national policies. But I do not believe that Germans are against the enlargement. They strongly supported the enlargement in the East in 2004 and 2007,” Schultz concluded. Martin Schultz (Tanjug, file) Beta Vecernje novosti

“EU door open, conditions must be fulfilled”

However, Schultz added that Serbia needed to continue to implement reforms and conduct a dialogue with Priština.

Commenting on a request to continue normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština, he said that relations between “two neighbors are normal when they talk, respect each other and try to peacefully solve disputable issues”.

“I hope this will happen as soon as possible because it is very important for both Belgrade and Priština’s European agenda. But I am aware that the normalization of relations will be a long process. However, I am happy to see that both countries have started the process with the EU integration as a leading principle,” the EP president was quoted as saying.

Commenting on his earlier statement that Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo’s independence at the end of its EU pathway, Schultz said that this was his stance and that he did not present any new conditions.

“Let us remember that both Belgrade and Priština want to join the EU some day. And all EU member states need to respect each other and to coexist peacefully,” he stressed.

The EP head also expressed belief that Germany was not Serbia’s biggest “opponent” on the EU pathway.

“I do not want to comment on national policies. But I do not believe that Germans are against the enlargement. They strongly supported the enlargement in the East in 2004 and 2007,” Schultz concluded.

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