Serbia makes good progress in the area of economy reform, but needs to improve its track record in judiciary reform, combating corruption and media freedom, says the Resolution adopted today by the European Parliament.
The Parliament also adopted six out of eight proposed amendments to the document compiled by EP Rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister.
The adopted Resolution “welcomes Serbia’s continued engagement on the path of integration into the European Union.”
It also notes “some progress” in the judiciary reform, asking the authorities to step up its reform efforts in the area of rule of law, and in particular to ensure the independence and overall efficiency of the judicial system and intensify fight against corruption.
The Resolution relies on this year’s EC Progress Report on Serbia and welcomes Serbia’s engagement in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, noting that “any agreement could only be acceptable if mutually agreed, taking into account the overall stability in the region and international law.”
MPs note “possible adjustments of the border between Serbia and Kosovo, including exchanges of territories” and “underline the multi-ethnic nature of both Kosovo and Serbia,” stating that “ethnically homogeneous states should not be the objective in the region.”
The document “highlights the importance of creating an association / community of Serb majority municipalities” in Kosovo as well as the implementation of all the agreements already reached, including the ones on energy.
The Resolution “unequivocally condemns the killing of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanović and stresses the need for genuine cooperation between Kosovan and Serbian investigators and for international support, so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Serbia is called on to increase its alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, including its policy on Russia, also within the United Nations and to progressively align its visa policy with that of the EU.
