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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Conference on Serbia’s EU perspective opens

Belgrade, 6 November 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic today demanded that the EU does not set new preconditions for Serbia’s EU integration and treats Serbia the same way as other countries in the Western Balkans.

Vuk Jeremic

Author: Tanjug

At the “Serbia and the EU, Strengthening European Perspective” conference, organised by the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office and the Fund for Political Excellence, Jeremic recommended that the EU unfreezes the Transitional Trade Agreement by the end of the year, allows Serbia to acquire EU candidate status and adds it to the Schengen “white list” during 2009.

He pointed out that Serbia has never had a more pro-European oriented administration than this one, headed by President Boris Tadic, and therefore its progress on the path towards the EU has to be speeded up.

The Minister stressed that full cooperation with the Hague tribunal envisages arresting Hague indictee Ratko Mladic, although there is no firm evidence that he is hiding in Serbia, adding that the EU expects Serbia to ignore the fact that Montenegro and Macedonia recognised Kosovo’s independence.

Serbia faces great challenges and yet the EU is constantly posing new obstacles, said Jeremic.

According to him Serbia’s progress towards the EU would secure stability and economic development in the Western Balkans.

He pointed out that without Serbia being an EU member countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia will not have a European future.

The Minister recalled that Serbia stayed composed regarding the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo for the purpose of its European ambitions, adding that Serbia opted for legal means in its fight for the state’s interests, such as imposing an economic embargo on the Southern province.

If the international presence in Kosovo-Metohija is not defined in the UN, it will result in dangerous consequences. Therefore Serbia will discuss the reconfiguration of the international civilian presence with the UN. We are close to reaching an agreement to be adopted in the UN Security Council, stressed the Minister.

He reiterated that any status-neutral administration in Kosovo has to be based on Resolution 1244.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic also addressed the gathering, which will look at Serbia’s current and future steps towards EU membership, including the path to candidate status, security and economic preconditions, management, democracy and regional cooperation.

He voiced belief that Serbia will acquire candidate status and be included in the Schengen “white list” before end-2009.

According to him, while presenting the European Commission’s report on Serbia’s progress to EU integration, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn clearly stated that EU candidacy in 2009 can be attained only if Serbia continues implementing reforms and successfully concludes its cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

Djelic said that the European Commission’s report is in essence positive, because for the first time it mentions Serbia’s EU membership depending on cooperation with the Hague tribunal and the arrest of Hague indictee Ratko Mladic.

It is not fair or beneficial for regional stability to wait for this sole condition to be fulfilled before unfreezing the SAA, he said, voicing belief that European partners are aware of that.

He also announced that despite criticism, he will keep talking about deadlines in the EU integration process, because ten pressure is exerted upon the administration to do what needs to be done for its citizens.

Reflecting on the European Commission’s report, he noted that the document has showed that the lack of laws is “a bottleneck in the integration process”, but added he expects this image to change now that parliament has resumed.

Djelic explained that the report commends Serbian administrative capabilities, the EU Integration Office and the National Integration Programme, which should enable Serbia to be ready for full EU membership in 2012.

According to him, consensus opinion on EU integration in Serbia rose to 74%.

He said that 2008 was very tough for Serbia because of presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as because of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija.

He also thanked previous director of the EU Integration Office Tanja Miscevic for her contribution.

Director of the EU Integration Office Milica Delevic said that the EU integration process which started in 2000 has been difficult and different from the other transition countries.

Delevic explained that other countries did not have problems with their past, compulsory cooperation with The Hague, relations with Montenegro and the issue of Kosovo.

Speaking about the European Commission’s report, she noted that it shows a forward step has been made with the creation of a pro-European government in Belgrade.