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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Constitutions of Serbia and Montenegro need to be revised or new ones adopted

Belgrade, 11 November 2005

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus said today that the main political request set in the European Commission's Annual Report for Serbia-Montenegro is the adoption of a new or revision of the existing constitutions of the two member states, in line with European standards.

Author: Fonet

In the talks with journalists, organised by the government's EU Integration Office, Labus said that he does not see how Serbia can sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement if it does not bring about a new constitution.

He said that the European Commission report gives priority to political, and not economic requests, so it highlights that it is necessary to make additional efforts to respect the Constitutional Charter, continue the reform of public administration, create an efficient and independent judiciary and establish civil control of the military.

The report also highlights the need for cooperation with the Hague tribunal, as well as for establishment of the political dialogue with Pristina on all issues, including the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

The economic requests outline the maintenance of macro economic stability and implementation of structural reforms in the economy, as well as additional reforms that would solve problems concerning competitiveness, Labus said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that further improvements are necessary in the fields of visa regime, border control, asylum and migration, in which the jurisdiction is divided between the state union and the member states.

Speaking about the first round of talks with the EU, Labus said that a way has been found to include an evolutional clause in the preamble of the agreement, according to which the EU will take upon the obligation of granting membership to Serbia-Montenegro, once it fulfils all conditions.

He said that a period of one year is reasonable for concluding the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, adding that the holding of a referendum in Montenegro will definitely result in the prolonging of talks. According to Labus, because of this an understanding has been reached with representatives of the EU that technical negotiations should be accelerated so that the bulk of the work will be done by April.

Labus said that further complication in the negotiations is being caused by the fact that Serbia-Montenegro is still not part of the World Trade Organisation because talks with that organisation must be coordinated with talks with the EU, as well as with the agreements on free trade that Serbia has with its neighbours.

Labus said that one of the demands in the Annual Report of the European Commission to Serbia-Montenegro is the adoption of suitable legislation on restitution, and he pointed out that the solution to this will occur in two steps.

He recalled that the first step in that direction has been made with the adoption of the Law on reporting and registration of confiscated property, adding that the time period for reporting is to expire by the middle of the next year, so that in autumn of 2006 it will be known which properties are subject to the law.

Labus said that following this process, it is expected that another law on restitution will be passed, and that this law concerns the method of returning property or compensation in cases where property cannot be returned.