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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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EU negotiations could be completed by next March

Belgrade, 28 June 2005

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus stated that negotiations on concluding Serbia-Montenegro’s Agreement on Stabilisation and Association with the EU could technically be completed in six months, which means by the end of March next year, provided they begin in October.

Miroljub Labus

In a statement to the Tanjug news agency, before his official visit to Brussels, where he will discuss technical aspects and the strategy of future negotiations with the highest EU officials, Labus said that the speed of negotiations will depend on their efficiency, and the efficiency on the agreement on technical details, as well as the work of the negotiating team, and the entire concept of the Agreement, which must be adapted to the “two-track” formula.

“The European Commission will most probably be given mandate by July 22 for negotiations with our country and we now have to agree on what course those negotiations will take within the “two-track” formula, which is a novelty for the European Commission”, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He explained that he would inform those he will meet in Brussels, including EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, about how Belgrade perceives the course of future negotiations, considering that local experts and officials have already gained experience in this respect through negotiations with international financial organisations.

Labus added that negotiations could be completed in six months, after which the Agreement could be initialled and signed in the second quarter of next year, with the assessment that this is technically possible.

Reminding that three negotiating teams have been formed, for Serbia, Montenegro and a joint one for the state union, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the Serbian government has adopted a Strategy for European Accession, so it still remains to be seen how the negotiations will unfold, and when they will begin.

He assessed that they could begin on October 5, but prior to that the European Commission has to conduct some technical work in preparing the annual report on West Balkan countries.

“We shall have to wait and see if this can be done by October, or whether they will wish to begin negotiations in November. I have arguments in favour of October, not just because of the symbolic meaning of this date, but also because of the length of negotiations”, Labus said.

The forthcoming talks will also cover the “two-track” formula and even though it has been accepted in principle, technically there are some certain open issues that still remain. Also important is that these talks will take place at a moment when Brussels has a very positive approach, indicated by the level and number of high officials he will meet at EU headquarters.

The process of further economic reforms, the issue of relations within the state union, especially in respect to the new constitution, the referendum and a whole series of issues that could affect the course of further negotiations will also be discussed, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He expressed his belief that Kosovo-Metohija will also be a topic, as the resolving of the problem of that province will be parallel with negotiations on concluding the Agreement, while the question of full cooperation with the Hague tribunal is also unavoidable.

Labus announced that he would certainly initiate talks on macrofinancial support to the country in Brussels.

Regarding the so-called EU pre-accession funds, Labus explained that their budget for the 2007-2013 period has yet to be adopted, so the country can still use funds next year from the CARDS programme (the EU’s Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation).

There is also a question of the flexibility of pre-accession funds and at what point we can become eligible for all forms of financing, especially for transport, infrastructure and rural development, Labus underlined and noted that those details would be the topic of very specific talks.

Also on the table will be the situation in the EU after the negative outcome of referendums on the new European constitution and how that could influence the EU’s enlargement process, which includes the country’s accession.