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Process of Serbia's European integration to speed up
Belgrade,
6 August 2012
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic said that Serbia needs to accelerate the European integration process so that citizens can benefit from it, and said that we must be aware that the EU will not solve our problems, but we need to do that on our own.
In an interview with today's edition of daily newspaper "Blic" Grubjesic stated that we need to make wise and rational decisions in the interest of citizens.
She explained that we should get the date for the commencement of negotiations and start them without barriers.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that European Commission's report in October will be neither better nor worse than last year's, and noted that it will be completed in September.
Regarding the date for starting negotiations, she said it would be irresponsible to bid with dates, and added that it is necessary to implement internal reforms and that the date will come as the result.
She reiterated that there are no new or secret conditions, but noted that what the previous government agreed in a technical dialogue with Pristina needs to be implemented.
She noted that all the conditions are already listed in public in the conclusions of the European Council.
The technical dialogue must be continued and completed, and there are issues of telecommunications and electricity still pending, she noted.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that we should begin the process of normalisation of relations with Kosovo, but also pointed out that before that Serbia must reach a consensus on Kosovo, which includes defining a clear strategy at the level of national leadership.
Grubjesic said that there is a need to clarify any ambiguities in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, adding that it refers to the representation of Kosovo, the footnote, the asterisks and other uncertainties.
Before the dialogue we need to reach an agreement on Kosovo among key political actors and institutions in Serbia.
If the dialogue is political, then it must be raised to the highest state level, she noted.
Talking about internal reforms, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it is necessary to remedy the situation in the judiciary, especially after the Constitutional Court to annulled the decision of the High Judicial Council and State Prosecutors Council to return a majority of unelected judges to work.
Grubjesic stressed that the European Commission in its reports pointed to the problem of the re-election and violation of the principle of permanence of judicial office.
She reiterated that the fight against crime should not be marketing, but that all state authorities should do their job.
She explained that we should get the date for the commencement of negotiations and start them without barriers.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that European Commission's report in October will be neither better nor worse than last year's, and noted that it will be completed in September.
Regarding the date for starting negotiations, she said it would be irresponsible to bid with dates, and added that it is necessary to implement internal reforms and that the date will come as the result.
She reiterated that there are no new or secret conditions, but noted that what the previous government agreed in a technical dialogue with Pristina needs to be implemented.
She noted that all the conditions are already listed in public in the conclusions of the European Council.
The technical dialogue must be continued and completed, and there are issues of telecommunications and electricity still pending, she noted.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that we should begin the process of normalisation of relations with Kosovo, but also pointed out that before that Serbia must reach a consensus on Kosovo, which includes defining a clear strategy at the level of national leadership.
Grubjesic said that there is a need to clarify any ambiguities in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, adding that it refers to the representation of Kosovo, the footnote, the asterisks and other uncertainties.
Before the dialogue we need to reach an agreement on Kosovo among key political actors and institutions in Serbia.
If the dialogue is political, then it must be raised to the highest state level, she noted.
Talking about internal reforms, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it is necessary to remedy the situation in the judiciary, especially after the Constitutional Court to annulled the decision of the High Judicial Council and State Prosecutors Council to return a majority of unelected judges to work.
Grubjesic stressed that the European Commission in its reports pointed to the problem of the re-election and violation of the principle of permanence of judicial office.
She reiterated that the fight against crime should not be marketing, but that all state authorities should do their job.
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