There are currently no contractual relations between the EU and Serbia-Montenegro. During the past years, the EU has offered advice through the Consultative Task Force EU-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and after it through the Permanent Improved Dialogue. The Permanent Improved Dialogue currently monitors reforms based on the European partnership that the EU Council of Ministers adopted in June 2004, based on the appropriate implementation plan concluded by Serbia-Montenegrin authorities in December 2004.
The European Commission believes that Serbia-Montenegro is prepared to enter into negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The Commission has proposed to the EU Council of Ministers that these negotiations start, and in accordance with this it will present a draft timeframe at the forthcoming Permanent Improved Dialogue at the end of April.
Regarding the area of internal affairs, the Ministry of Interior must regulate visas, asylums, migrations and integrated border control. The only problem we are faced with in this area is defining the competences of the statue union and the member states, but considerable progress has been made in this respect.
The fight against organised crime, money laundering and corruption, which present serious threats to the rule of law, are also among our key tasks. The positive feasibility study, of course, is not the signal for beginning the work on these issues, as they have for some time now been a priority of this Ministry. After the positive feasibility study, and especially after the conclusion of the agreement on stabilisation and association, the harmonisation of the legal framework with EU standards will be accelerated and a comprehensive reform of the Ministry of Interior, aimed at creating a modern and efficient police force capable of combating all forms of crime, would be undertaken.
Bearing in mind that organised crime does not respect national boundaries, it is necessary to change the legal framework that regulates the protection of personal data during automatic data processing in accordance with EU standards. This harmonisation represents a priority and is a precondition for full police cooperation and exchange of data with police forces of EU member states within Europol.
We are under obligation to continue comprehensive police reform in Serbia. In this respect the adoption of a law on police is underway, and a package of laws in the area of internal affairs is in the draft stage. Regarding the respect of human and minority rights, the Ministry has made significant progress in investigating committed crimes.
The European Commission believes that Serbia-Montenegro is prepared to enter into negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The Commission has proposed to the EU Council of Ministers that these negotiations start, and in accordance with this it will present a draft timeframe at the forthcoming Permanent Improved Dialogue at the end of April.
Regarding the area of internal affairs, the Ministry of Interior must regulate visas, asylums, migrations and integrated border control. The only problem we are faced with in this area is defining the competences of the statue union and the member states, but considerable progress has been made in this respect.
The fight against organised crime, money laundering and corruption, which present serious threats to the rule of law, are also among our key tasks. The positive feasibility study, of course, is not the signal for beginning the work on these issues, as they have for some time now been a priority of this Ministry. After the positive feasibility study, and especially after the conclusion of the agreement on stabilisation and association, the harmonisation of the legal framework with EU standards will be accelerated and a comprehensive reform of the Ministry of Interior, aimed at creating a modern and efficient police force capable of combating all forms of crime, would be undertaken.
Bearing in mind that organised crime does not respect national boundaries, it is necessary to change the legal framework that regulates the protection of personal data during automatic data processing in accordance with EU standards. This harmonisation represents a priority and is a precondition for full police cooperation and exchange of data with police forces of EU member states within Europol.
We are under obligation to continue comprehensive police reform in Serbia. In this respect the adoption of a law on police is underway, and a package of laws in the area of internal affairs is in the draft stage. Regarding the respect of human and minority rights, the Ministry has made significant progress in investigating committed crimes.