European Union is ready to support Serbia along its path towards membership, but the accession process must be transparent and include all key stakeholders, the President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said after meeting Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.
“One of the key lessons learned from past enlargements of the EU is: the accession process must be transparent and inclusive. After all, EU membership is not an endeavour of a few but the ambition of many, I am sure, of the overwhelming majority of Serbia’s people,” Barroso said.
“The process must therefore involve all key stakeholders, including parliament, independent regulatory bodies, as well as civil society. That is why in discussion with the Prime Minister I welcomed the launch of the National Convention on EU in Serbia on 20 June,” he added.
Barroso said the European Commission was ready to help, and support will continue to be available in the period 2014-2020 through our EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
“It will have a strong focus on the rule of law together with enhancing economic governance and competitiveness. Support to infrastructure investments in transport, energy and environment sectors will also be included,” he said.
Having acknowledged “the substantial progress” Serbia has made so far on its parth towards EU membership, Barroso said that accession negotiations have been proceeding smoothly so far, with 18 out of 35 Chapters entered the so-called “screening” process.
European Commission President Barroso
“I have congratulated the Prime Minister on his recent appointment and conveyed to him my high expectations regarding the future course of action of his Government,” Barroso said.
During the one-day visit to Serbia the European Commission President toured Obrenovac that had been the most severely hit by recent floods.
“My sympathies are with the citizens who suffered so severely,” he said, adding that during the visit to Obrenovac he “wish to emphasise that the EU has been and will continue to stand by Serbia’s side throughout these difficulties.”
22 EU Member States and the European Commission have sent assistance to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2014 in the largest European civil protection intervention in Europe ever.
Barroso in Obrenovac
“We will now plan together mid-to-long term reconstruction and disaster prevention. A Donor Conference will take place on 16 July in Brussels. This shows the strong solidarity of the EU with Serbia,” Barroso said.
Commending the results in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina which “is one of the priority issues for the EU,” Barroso said the two sides were expected to resume the talks soon.
EU “consider Serbia as a reliable partner and a pillar for the stability and development of South Eastern Europe,” he said.
President Barroso’s speech is available here.
President Barroso’s remarks after meeting with President Tomislav Nikolic
