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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Serbia expects clear date for start of negotiations with EU to be set

Belgrade, 8 June 2013

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic said today that Serbia and its citizens expect a recognition from Brussels and that the date for the start of negotiations with the EU be set clearly and precisely because they have been supporting the process of European integration patiently for 12 years.

Author: Fonet

Grubjesic said in an interview with FoNet agency that a possible decision of the Council of the European Union (EU) to postpone negotiations for the next year would represent an excuse and would not contribute to stabilisation of the region.

According to her, before the meeting of the Council of the EU for General Affairs and External Relations, European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton should make a report, which is expected to happen between 15 and 20 June.

That report should be an incentive for the Member States to make a positive decision for Serbia, Grubjesic underlined.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration recalled that in an earlier report File and Ashton gave a positive assessment of Serbia and recommendation to open accession negotiations.

In case Serbia does not get an exact date for the start of negotiations in June, Grubjesic noted that that would not be a failure of Serbia, but an excuse of the EU.

She pointed out that decisions have to be made in such a way so that everyone gets something, and underlined that Serbia should finally get the date for the beginning of negotiations.

According to her, in the past 10 months the Serbian government has done much more than anyone expected in the domestic or international public.

We bravely started with the resolving of the most difficult issue, reached a political agreement and adopted the plan for implementation of the agreement with Pristina. The agreement is implemented, implementation groups are working, there is dynamic that is respected, Grubjesic noted.

She said that by 28 June, the liaison officers who have their offices in Belgrade and Pristina should start working, or to choose or at least suggest a regional police commander who will provide the necessary security to Serbs in northern Kosovo.

No one can expect us to implement the agreement in full in the short term, Grubjesic noted, because that requires effort from both sides.

Grubjesic added that if Serbia starts the accession negotiations with the EU, it would be ideal that the Intergovernmental Commission of the EU member states and Serbia be held in October, because that would officially represent the beginning of the negotiation process.

She noted that the Serbian government conducts talks with all EU Member States, since the decisions made in the Union require a consensus of all, but it is known whose voice always prevails when making big decisions.

That is the voice of Germany, so we pay special attention to Berlin, but of course we did not neglect other countries either, Grubjesic underlined.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration announced a visit to Germany next week and noted that these discussions always complex and sometimes expectations are too high.

What we all always say is that we can promise only what we can fulfil. I want to hear a clear position from them what is it that is lacking so that they could vote in favour of giving a date to Serbia, if anything is lacking, Grubjesic underlined.

Grubjesic also expects Lithuania, as the next chair of the EU, to ratify by the end of this month the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia, since it is the only EU country that has not yet done so.

We had two unsuccessful privatisations by Lithuanian investors, but arbitration has been agreed, Grubjesic recalled.

She also said that Serbia carried out administrative and procedural part of the preparations for future negotiations with the EU, but a negotiating team is yet to be formed and to choose its head.

Ideally, the head of the team would monitor the entire process, just like in Croatia and Slovenia. If there are proposals for the head to be a political figure, then that will depend on the elections and the change of power, Grubjesic explained.

According to her, the Committee for European Integration of the Serbian Parliament will have a significant role in the negotiation process and therefore, the engagement of the opposition is expected.