Serbian officials to receive EU commissioner

BELGRADE EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule starts a two-day visit and will hold talks with officials about Serbia's steps in the process of EU integration. As announced by the EU Delegation in Belgrade, he comes to "welcome the country that is entering a new and decisive phase in relations with the EU, as the European Council on June 28 decided to open accession negotiations with Serbia." Serbian officials to receive EU commissioner The Serbian delegation that will meet with Fule will include Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and ministers Suzana Grubjesic, Mladjan Dinkic, Ivan Mrkic, and Nikola Selakovic. Dacic said that talks would begin with Fule on the negotiation framework and the EU has already designated 18 areas in which it will perform screening in Serbia. Topics of discussion include the establishment of the necessary structures in Serbia for the negotiation process, as well as confirmation of continued priorities of Serbia on the road toward the EU: keeping the pace of reforms, the implementation of all agreements in the dialogue with Pristina, important role in the region and promoting of lasting reconciliation. "The decision to open accession negotiations is a major achievement of the Serbian leadership which rewarded continuous efforts expended over the past decade. These efforts must be continued, the negotiation process is demanding and takes years," Fule said ahead of his trip. Deputy chief of EU delegation in Serbia Andriano Martins said on Monday that chapters 23 and 23, concerning judiciary and justice, freedom and security, that will be opened first during negotiations, will be paid special attention during the visit. He said that, however, the pace of progress will depend on Serbia's essential efforts to implement the Brussels agreement and reform the judiciary. There are 35 negotiating chapters, of which 33 will be negotiated while two chapters - institutions and other questions, are technical. Reportedly in the case of Serbia this chapter, which is related to other questions, will be based above all on the implementation of the agreement with Pristina. Radio Free Europe is quoting sources close to the EU Council of Ministers who said that Fule will tell this to the Serbian officials as he meets with them in Belgrade. On July 2 Fule sent his negotiating framework draft to the EU, while the final version is expected to be before all member countries after consultations on July 26. It is expected that it could be sent to Serbia before the fall. (Tanjug, file) Beta

Serbian officials to receive EU commissioner

The Serbian delegation that will meet with Fule will include Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, and ministers Suzana Grubješić, Mlađan Dinkić, Ivan Mrkić, and Nikola Selaković.

Dačić said that talks would begin with Fule on the negotiation framework and the EU has already designated 18 areas in which it will perform screening in Serbia.

Topics of discussion include the establishment of the necessary structures in Serbia for the negotiation process, as well as confirmation of continued priorities of Serbia on the road toward the EU: keeping the pace of reforms, the implementation of all agreements in the dialogue with Priština, important role in the region and promoting of lasting reconciliation.

"The decision to open accession negotiations is a major achievement of the Serbian leadership which rewarded continuous efforts expended over the past decade. These efforts must be continued, the negotiation process is demanding and takes years," Fule said ahead of his trip.

Deputy chief of EU delegation in Serbia Andriano Martins said on Monday that chapters 23 and 23, concerning judiciary and justice, freedom and security, that will be opened first during negotiations, will be paid special attention during the visit.

He said that, however, the pace of progress will depend on Serbia's essential efforts to implement the Brussels agreement and reform the judiciary.

There are 35 negotiating chapters, of which 33 will be negotiated while two chapters - institutions and other questions, are technical.

Reportedly in the case of Serbia this chapter, which is related to other questions, will be based above all on the implementation of the agreement with Priština.

Radio Free Europe is quoting sources close to the EU Council of Ministers who said that Fule will tell this to the Serbian officials as he meets with them in Belgrade.

On July 2 Fule sent his negotiating framework draft to the EU, while the final version is expected to be before all member countries after consultations on July 26. It is expected that it could be sent to Serbia before the fall.