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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia will not accept new conditions on its path towards EU

Belgrade, 10 October 2012

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic expressed satisfaction today with the way reforms in Serbia have been evaluated in the latest report of the European Commission, but also said that it is unacceptable for Serbia that territorial integrity of Kosovo is mentioned in EU documents.

Dacic said after the talks with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert, who handed him over the report of the European Commission on Serbia's progress towards the EU, that such formulations interfere with the continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and that they will be the subject of serious political considerations in Serbia.

Serbia was ready for a political dialogue already in October, but this is now posing a question before us whether that is just a milder alternative to the recognition of Kosovo's independence, the Prime Minister underlined and pointed out that there is no territorial integrity without sovereignty.

He added that this formulation is not mentioned in the European Commission’s report, but in some other document of the EU.

Dacic confirmed that he will ask European Enlargement Commission Stefan Fule to comment on whether the formulation on Kosovo’s territorial integrity is a new condition for Serbia because, he underlined, new conditions are unacceptable for Serbia.

If we interpreted this formulation in a wrong way then we will be ready for continuation of dialogue with Pristina, the Prime Minister stressed.

This will not deviate Serbia from its European path, we will always express a desire to become an EU member, but such formulations may only disrupt the continuation of dialogue and will be the subject of serious consideration on our part, he reiterated.

In his opinion, the formulation on the territorial integrity of Kosovo is not a useful move because there are five EU countries that do not recognise the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

The most important is that in its evaluation of Serbia’s progress the European Commission concentrated on the criteria defined in December last year, and these are the implementation of the agreements reached with Kosovo, continuation of dialogue and a visible progress, i.e. normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Dacic reiterated that Serbia is not a threat to peace in the region and that no one can blame it for protecting its legitimate national and state interests.

Serbia will continue dialogue with the EU because nothing can prevent it and take it away from Europe, but when it comes to Kosovo there should be an agreement, rather than imposing a solution, the Prime Minister stressed.

We will do everything to fulfil our obligations that the previous government took on and we will continue cooperation with the European Commission on the fulfilment of the criteria in order to harmonise our legislation and create European values because that is in the interest of citizens, Dacic concluded. Degert said that the EU Enlargement Strategy, which he handed over today to Dacic together with the European Commission’s report on Serbia's progress in the past year, clearly highlights the Union’s intention to continue with enlargement. According to him, the EU-Serbia relations have never been better, but there are still tasks that need to be addressed, such as the continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

He pointed out that the EU respects Serbia's decision to implement agreements reached with Pristina in Brussels, and recalled that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is ready to participate in the announced political dialogue.

Degert stated that the EU appreciates Serbia’s readiness to raise talks to a higher political level and confirmed that the Union is ready to help Serbia overcome economic problems.

He underlined that Serbia must correct defects in the reform of the judiciary and continue the fight against corruption and crime, and added that European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule will arrive in Serbia tonight.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic noted that the latest report of the European Commission is neither a criticism nor praise, but rather an objective evaluation of the implementation of reforms in the previous year.

She underlined that the government will examine the document in detail and that Serbian judiciary and legal system will continue to be harmonised with European norms. The annual report on the progress of Serbia and the Western Balkan countries in the process of European integration has been published today in Brussels.