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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

No new conditions for Serbia’s European integration

Belgrade, 20 September 2013

Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration Branko Ruzic stated today that the implementation of the Brussels agreement will be crucial for the opening of negotiations on Serbia’s accession to the EU.

Jelko Kacin, left, and Branko Ruzic

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Rapportuer of the European Parliament for Serbia Jelko Kacin and Head of the Negotiating team for Serbia’s accession to the EU Tanja Miscevic, Ruzic said that the holding of local elections in Kosovo-Metohija on 3 November and the formation of the community of Serbian municipalities will also be of key importance. The Minister used this opportunity to call on citizens of Kosovo-Metohija to go to the upcoming local elections and use their voting right.

He noted that the European Parliament plays a very important role in Serbia’s European integration process and announced the beginning of the explanatory screening for 25 September, which represents a symbolic start of the EU accession process. Ruzic said that today’s meeting provided an overview of reforms implemented by Serbia and underlined that the process of European integration requires commitment, administrative capacity and expert knowledge.

He also underlined that Germany is not setting new conditions to Serbia and that there is no need to raise tensions over something that does not actually exist. Ruzic said that he was assured that that is the case by Miscevic and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Turkey and EFTA countries in the German Foreign Office Ernst Reichel at today’s meeting.

Kacin said that the European Parliament will continue to support Serbia, both the ruling coalition and the opposition, civil society and the public.

He explained that the EU is both political and economic project, and that economic recovery is understandably most important for the citizens of Serbia in the process of European integration.

Kacin added that the European Parliament is preparing a report on Serbia’s progress, which will be published before the beginning of the intergovernmental conference.