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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Serbia’s progress in European integration to be checked in April

Belgrade, 23 February 2013

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic said that the date for start of negotiations with the EU has still not been set as the EU wants to see how the agreements from Belgrade-Pristina dialogue reached in Brussels are implemented in practice, and that a German-French delegation will arrive in Belgrade in April to check that on the spot.

Author: Tanjug

In an interview to today’s issue of Vecernje Novosti daily, Grubjesic said that for Serbia it would be the best to obtain the date in June, but in case it doesn’t happen, reforms will be continued.

We are reforming the country for our own sake, and not only to get the date, Grubjesic added.

European integration is a process, not an event. Obtaining the date is just one event in the entire process, she said.

Grubjesic said that it is certain that Serbia has never been closer to obtaining a date for starting accession talks with the EU, adding that the Serbian delegation has left a great impression during its visit to Germany.

She announced that in March deputies of the ruling German Christian Democratic Union will arrive in Belgrade to convince themselves of Serbia's progress, and a mixed delegation of the Bundestag and the French Parliament will arrive in April.

Following the report of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, who is expected in mid-April, Germany will decide on a date for the start of talks with Serbia, Grubjesic reiterated.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration said that the Serbian delegation was assured in direct talks with political representatives of Germany that they are very pleased with the seriousness with which the Serbian government solves the most difficult problems, starting from dialogue with Pristina, the fight against corruption and the economy.

Grubjesic pointed out that there is no danger that Serbia might be stopped in the reform process, but it certainly needs to continue to work in various fields, including the revision of judicial reform, the rule of law, the fight against organised crime and corruption.