Head of Delegation of the EU to Serbia Sem Fabrizi told N1 in an interview that the Serbia’s road to the EU depends more on itself than on the EU, and that the two opened chapters are a good sign.
“Our view is clear, the more reforms Serbia implements, the better their quality, the faster the process of opening chapters will take place,” said Fabrizi.
“The opening of chapters means that there is progress and confirms that there is a commitment from both sides to move forward with the negotiations. There is consensus among several Member States that progress had indeed been achieved, but that there is more work to be done. They believe that Serbia was ready for these two chapters,” Fabrizi pointed out.
He said that all the Member States agreed to grant the opening of said chapters, but that it is important not to forget the reforms Serbia has already adopted but is yet to act upon them, so that it could proceed further.
“The message was clear – the two chapters may be opened, but the reform process must go on,” Fabrizi said and added that Serbia’s success on the EU path depends more on Serbia itself than on the EU.
Our view is clear, the more reforms Serbia implements, the better their quality, the faster the process of opening chapters will take place,” Fabrizi noted.
“Two chapters are a good sign,” Fabrizi underlined.
He also said that progress must be made in the field of media freedom.
The government realised that this is a field it has to tackle; a working group has been set up to draft the media strategy. We are carefully following what is going on, the job has not been finished yet,” he said.
Fabrizi added that there is also the need to implement a number of laws.
“It is an ongoing process. The more determined Serbia is in implementing reforms, the faster the process takes place.”
He said the Western Balkans top the EU’s priority list.
“I think the EU pays great attention to the Western Balkans. We hope that this region wants to get closer to the EU and I think we can show progress and are satisfied. This is a process and everyone has to go in the same direction.”
Commenting on Pristina’s decision to impose 100 percent tax on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fabrizi reminded that the EU has considered this move to be in breach of the CEFTA agreement.
We still want those taxes revoked, it is up to Pristina to do it. It is not an easy job, we hope that the government in Pristina will listen to us and realise that, by doing this, they are endangering trade, underlined Fabrizi and reminded that Johannes Hahn and Federica Mogherini called on Pristina to do the same.
“Now it is up to Belgrade and Pristina to reach an agreement. I don’t think that all the pressure should come from the EU, we help with the dialogue, but all sides have to agree on everything that is being discussed,” said Sem Fabrizi.
He said that Serbia has a balanced position and is proceeding carefully.
“Serbia has a balanced position and is not introducing counter-measures. Its position is peaceful. But, even though the measures are tough, our message to Belgrade and Pristina has always been that the dialogue is theirs; the leadership must reach an agreement on every issue on the table. Every issue must be resolved,” Fabrizi noted.
