Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, officially handed the 2019 Serbia Report to the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. The Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic also attended the event.
The enlargement is in the interest of the EU itself, Ambassador Fabrizi said at a press conference after giving reports and talks with representatives of the Serbian government. He adds that the Union continues to invest heavily in the region, financial aid is coming through pre-accession funds, political will is expressed through last year’s Summit in Sofia, as well as through the Western Balkans Strategy. The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia thanked everyone who contributed to the report and said that it covers all aspects.
“There is progress in some areas, but Serbia needs to be more resolute. A large part of the report speaks of encouraging the provision of inter-party dialogue in order for parliament to exercise oversight function. There is no progress in the field of freedom of expression. A media strategy was adopted in a procedure that was inclusive and transparent, but the European Commission did not have the time to comment on that document, ” explained the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia.
The report also encouraged the continuation of the fight against corruption, and the new law in that area will be analyzed to determine if it is in line with the norms of the Council of Europe anti-corruption body. Serbia continued to significantly contribute to the consolidation of mixed migrant flows. Positive results are in the economy, the economy grew by 4 percent on healthy bases. For two years in a row, the budget is in a surplus, the state debt fell to 55 percent, foreign investment increased by 7.2 percent, the ambassador said.
“Economic reforms are progressing well, regional co-operation is a powerful engine for the entire Western Balkans to make it closer to the Union. The reforms in the rule of law need to be improved if the balance in the accession process is to be maintained,” the ambassador said, stressing that the question of normalizing the relations between Belgrade and Pristina is crucial for the country’s progress towards the European Union.
“The European Commission and the EU Delegation will remain committed to all partners in the further presentation of this report. The report will be our guide in the upcoming period. We certainly want Serbia to succeed in its reforms,” Ambassador Fabrizi concluded.
Prime Minister Brnabić and Minister Joksimović unanimously agree that Serbia will continue the process of joining the Union with recommendations from the report, but also don’t agree with certain aspects of it.
“This is basically a positive report, it recognizes the progress in some areas, primarily in the economy, but that progress is recognized by all international organizations. I believe that parts of the report are not facts-based, but political perceptions,”t he Prime Minister said, adding that Serbia is participating in the European Integration process because it wants to do it,” not for the progress report “.
“Progress is being noted, there is no regression in any area. I think that Serbia has done more than it is stated in the report. I hope that new chapters will be opened by the end of the Romanian Presidency,” said Minister Joksimovic.
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