"Pace of EU accession talks to depend on Serbia's progress"

BRUSSELS The EU's negotiating framework, which defines the process of Serbia's accession to the European Union, became an official document on Tuesday. It said that the pace of the accession talks will depend on Serbia's progress in meeting the requirements for membership. "Pace of EU accession talks to depend on Serbia's progress" In addition to general membership requirements, based on the Copenhagen criteria, the EU notes in the negotiating framework that a normalization of relations with Kosovo is one of the key points of the talks. The negotiation process should "gradually lead to the comprehensive normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, in the form of a legally binding agreement by the end of Serbia's accession negotiations", the document says. The issue will be addressed under Chapter 35, "Other issues," as "a specific item, which should be tackled early in and throughout the accession negotiations process", the document also says. Chapter 35, as well as Chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom and security) will be among the first to be opened, and among the last to be closed. According to Point 38 of the framework, "in all areas of the acquis, Serbia must ensure that its position on the status of Kosovo does not create any obstacle nor interfere with Serbia's implementation of the acquis. Any such obstacles will be addressed in the course of the negotiations in the context of the chapter of the acquis concerned." The same point stipulates that, during the talks, "Serbia shall in particular ensure that adopted legislation, including its geographical scope, does not run counter to the comprehensive normalization of relations with Kosovo." Also, the framework puts Chapter 35 on the same level as Chapters 23 and 24 - should progress under any of these three chapters "significantly lag" behind progress in the negotiations overall, the negotiations may be frozen. According to the European Commission document, "Serbia should be in a position to take on the obligations of membership in the medium term in nearly all acquis fields" and must also continue to align its legislation with the EU acquis. According to one of the principles of the negotiations, "Serbia will be required to progressively align its policies towards third countries and its positions within international organisations with the policies and positions adopted by the Union and its member states." "Serbia must accept the results of any other accession negotiations as they stand at the moment of its accession", the document says. The EU also indicates that, parallel to the accession talks, it will continue its civil society dialogue and cultural cooperation with Serbia and that "decisions will be taken as openly as possible" in order to "strengthen public confidence in the enlargement process". With respect to economic measures, the EU expressed its readiness to "continue assisting with policy advice and financial assistance". Tanjug

"Pace of EU accession talks to depend on Serbia's progress"

In addition to general membership requirements, based on the Copenhagen criteria, the EU notes in the negotiating framework that a normalization of relations with Kosovo is one of the key points of the talks.

The negotiation process should "gradually lead to the comprehensive normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, in the form of a legally binding agreement by the end of Serbia's accession negotiations", the document says.

The issue will be addressed under Chapter 35, "Other issues," as "a specific item, which should be tackled early in and throughout the accession negotiations process", the document also says.

Chapter 35, as well as Chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom and security) will be among the first to be opened, and among the last to be closed.

According to Point 38 of the framework, "in all areas of the acquis, Serbia must ensure that its position on the status of Kosovo does not create any obstacle nor interfere with Serbia's implementation of the acquis. Any such obstacles will be addressed in the course of the negotiations in the context of the chapter of the acquis concerned."

The same point stipulates that, during the talks, "Serbia shall in particular ensure that adopted legislation, including its geographical scope, does not run counter to the comprehensive normalization of relations with Kosovo."

Also, the framework puts Chapter 35 on the same level as Chapters 23 and 24 - should progress under any of these three chapters "significantly lag" behind progress in the negotiations overall, the negotiations may be frozen.

According to the European Commission document, "Serbia should be in a position to take on the obligations of membership in the medium term in nearly all acquis fields" and must also continue to align its legislation with the EU acquis.

According to one of the principles of the negotiations, "Serbia will be required to progressively align its policies towards third countries and its positions within international organisations with the policies and positions adopted by the Union and its member states."

"Serbia must accept the results of any other accession negotiations as they stand at the moment of its accession", the document says.

The EU also indicates that, parallel to the accession talks, it will continue its civil society dialogue and cultural cooperation with Serbia and that "decisions will be taken as openly as possible" in order to "strengthen public confidence in the enlargement process".

With respect to economic measures, the EU expressed its readiness to "continue assisting with policy advice and financial assistance".