By opening the chapters 23 and 24 within the accession negotiations, we are entering a new phase of Serbian European integration process which, in my opinion, is very positive for Serbia,“ said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport in Kovacica where a meeting was held between EU Member States’ ambassadors and Serbian officials in charge of European integration. The meeting, as he put it, is a good opportunity to organise a regular meeting with EU Member States’ ambassadors outside of Belgrade and discuss concrete outcomes of the Paris Summit.
This is also, Davenport said, an opportunity for EU representatives to welcome next steps toward the opening of chapters 23 and 24 and to hear from Minister Jadranka Joksimovic about next steps towards the implementation of action plans concerning these chapters.
“I think this is a great opportunity, great moment for Serbia and I dare say that the EU Delegation stands ready to fully cooperate with Serbia in the implementation of these action plans,” Davenport said.
Asked by the press whether he would keep the position of EU Delegation’s Head, given the outcome of British referendum and him being a citizen of the UK, Ambassador said: “The referendum did take place but we are yet to see actual Brexit and as you have heard from presidents Juncker and Tusk, the UK remains an EU Member State with all the rights and obligations just like any other EU country.”
Answering the question regarding Serbian perspectives in the light of UK referendum, Davenport said the Summit in Paris sent an important message about the EU being “fully committed to enlargement and expanding its activities and cooperation with all candidate countries in the Western Balkans.”
The meeting in Kovacica has been organised by the Embassy of Slovakia as the country chairing the EU Council, and apart from EU Ambassador Michael Davenport was attended by Minister in charge of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic, Head of Serbian EU accession negotiating team Tanja Miscevic and Director of Serbian European Integration Office Ksenija Milenkovic.
