Dialogue crucial for EU talks date, EP rapporteur says

BELGRADE The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and combat against organized crime are of crucial importance for Serbia to win a date of EU accession talks in June. This is according to European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin. Dialogue crucial for EU talks date, EP rapporteur says “The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is of crucial importance and the Serbian prime minister (Ivica Dacic) will visit Brussels next week,” Kacin stated and expressed the hope that the talks in Brussels would cover this issue. “The EP has great expectations from the fifth and the sixth round of talks, and wants the dialogue to send convincing messages,” he noted. After meeting with Serbian parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic, Kacin told reporters that Serbia had already carried out certain measures in the fight against corruption and added that the trend should be welcomed although certain collateral damage could not be avoided. The parliament speaker expressed gratitude for EP's encouragements and continuous support and pointed out that this was very important for Serbia. Stefanovic told reporters that the talks with Kacin ended with the agreement that Serbia had made certain progress in some areas and that the pace of the EU accession depends on the country alone. “However, Serbia's EU membership is important both for the country and the entire region,” he explained. “We will invest maximum efforts in achieving this,” Stefanovic stressed. The parliament speaker stated that he had informed Kacin about the activities the parliament had carried out on the EU path and specified the measures which needed to be implemented in the areas of judiciary and economic reforms so that Serbia could progress and ensure the date of EU accession talks in June with a higher degree of certainty. Jelko Kacin (Beta, file) Tanjug

Dialogue crucial for EU talks date, EP rapporteur says

“The Belgrade-Priština dialogue is of crucial importance and the Serbian prime minister (Ivica Dačić) will visit Brussels next week,” Kacin stated and expressed the hope that the talks in Brussels would cover this issue.

“The EP has great expectations from the fifth and the sixth round of talks, and wants the dialogue to send convincing messages,” he noted.

After meeting with Serbian parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović, Kacin told reporters that Serbia had already carried out certain measures in the fight against corruption and added that the trend should be welcomed although certain collateral damage could not be avoided.

The parliament speaker expressed gratitude for EP's encouragements and continuous support and pointed out that this was very important for Serbia.

Stefanović told reporters that the talks with Kacin ended with the agreement that Serbia had made certain progress in some areas and that the pace of the EU accession depends on the country alone.

“However, Serbia's EU membership is important both for the country and the entire region,” he explained.

“We will invest maximum efforts in achieving this,” Stefanović stressed.

The parliament speaker stated that he had informed Kacin about the activities the parliament had carried out on the EU path and specified the measures which needed to be implemented in the areas of judiciary and economic reforms so that Serbia could progress and ensure the date of EU accession talks in June with a higher degree of certainty.