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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

EU accession requires full agreement of all institutions and citizens

Belgrade, 15 April 2005

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Serbian government's team for negotiations on the EU stabilisation and association agreement Miroljub Labus told the latest edition of the E Magazine that Serbian could become member of the EU by 2012 and explained that Serbia will then become a part of a large political and economic system in which the economy will develop more easily, the country will get more foreign investment and will have a safer market. The official website of the Serbian government brings excerpts from the interview.

Miroljub Labus

Why is it necessary for Serbia to enter into European integration:

- The European Union is much spoken about in the public. From all these unconnected, almost anecdotal stories, a citizen might conclude that the EU is some strange creation, which would secure an easy life to our people, but at the same time take its identity away. It is true that the EU unites 25 countries and is a state that is one of six giants of the modern world (along with the US, Russia, India, China and Japan). It is a fact that the unity of these 25 states doesn't annul the tradition of each individual country. It is also true that EU membership in itself doesn't secure an easy life. However, there will be many benefits for Serbian citizens. Big agricultural funds will be available to farmers. By introducing standards in the field of market competitiveness, consumers will be protected from monopolistic behaviour of companies that offer low-quality services at skyrocketing prices. The reform of the judiciary will enable citizens to protect their rights in an appropriate way. The road network will be developed, as well as poor rural areas, environmental protection will be improved owing to the access of EU funds. Great advantages for the young population should also be taken into account. Today, Serbia's students study in their home country and dream of working abroad. Imagine how Serbia will look if tomorrow our students start studying in Europe, and working in Serbia. Imagine how much easier it will be for our students to study abroad and apply that knowledge in Serbia if borders are open and curricula harmonised with those in Europe.

What is necessary to do in order for us to be on that road?

This government managed to make an important move toward European integration. To get a positive feasibility study, the issue of harmonisation of the two economic systems of Serbia and Montenegro needed to be resolved, by using the two-track lane approach, to solve the sugar affair, to improve customs service and to overcome the problem of an institutional crisis of the state union. The shift in stance of Belgrade resulted in a shift of Brussels’ stance, to general benefit. Today, both sides stress with satisfaction that the process of Serbia’s European integration has begun. Of course, we have to remove some other barriers, of political nature. One of them is cooperation with the tribunal at The Hague. Once we manage to solve that, our accession will depend only on our readiness to create a richer economy and cheaper state.

When is it realistic to expect that the country will join Europe?

After getting a positive Feasibility Study, the second phase of the country’s EU accession will follow, namely, negotiations on concluding the stabilisation and association agreement by the end of this year or early next year. Our country could get the associated EU member status in 2006 and get the EU candidate status in 2007 or 2008. If political situation is good, the country could join the EU in 2012. Then we will become part of one big political and economic system where we could develop our economy more easily and where we will have more foreign investment coming and a safer market. On that road, the government needs allies, not enemies. No country managed to join the EU without the support of its institutions and citizens, and it will be so with Serbia too. Political stability is therefore a precondition for any next move that leads toward the EU.

The necessity of joining the EU:

We have to realise that European integration is not a matter of propaganda or fashion, but rather a challenge for all. Without it, the country would become isolated politically and economically in 20 years’ time. It would be surrounded by a large state and market that would be much more powerful and more competitive than us.