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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

European Commission backs European integration of Serbia

Belgrade/Brussels, 26 June 2013

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic met today with President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and expressed his gratitude to the European Commission for issuing a recommendation to the European Council and the Member States to open negotiations on Serbia's accession to the EU.

Ivica Dacic, left, and Jose Manuel Barroso

Dacic, who is on a visit to Brussels today, said at a joint press conference with Barroso, that Serbia has done much in the field of internal reforms and in dialogue with Pristina.

He thanked once more the mediator in the talks, EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the fact that, as he said, she made a tremendous effort to make dialogue lead to success.

The Prime Minister underlined that Serbia expects the opening of negotiations and to get a date, without any new conditions, not later than January 2014.

Serbia in the EU is a factor of regional stability, Dacic concluded and stated that the Serbian government will do everything so that membership negotiations do not last long and that will act responsibly, as in dialogue with Pristina.

Dacic said that Serbia should start negotiations as soon as possible because there is no time to waste, recalling at the same time that our country has for too long been separated from the family of European nations, where it belongs.

Barroso expressed his hope that on 28 June Serbia will get good news regarding the start of accession negotiations with the EU and added that the European Commission is supporting Serbia on its European path.

The opening of negotiations with Serbia is a historic decision both for Serbia and Europe, Barroso noted, adding that Belgrade must continue to implement the agreement with Pristina and internal reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law.

He congratulated Dacic, the Serbian government and the people of Serbia on the opening of a new European chapter, and pointed to the merits of the Serbian Prime Minister in reaching the historic agreement with Pristina.

The European Commission President commended visible effects of the implementation of the agreement on the ground and highlighted the importance of carrying it through.

As part of his official visit to Brussels, Dacic met today with Ashton and European Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration Maros Sefcovic.

After the meeting with Barroso, Dacic met with several European commissioners: Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor, European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki.