Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi presented the European Commission Report on Serbia at the Fifth Plenary of the National Convention on the EU.

Ambassador Fabrizi said that the Report noted no progress in the area of freedom of expression.

“Some progress was noted in fight against corruption and organised crime,” Fabrizi said.

Serbia needs to strengthen the role of the Parliament and decrease the strong political pressure on judiciary.

“Serbian economy made very good progress. Despite the last year’s economic growth of under two per cent, we expect to see an increase in exports and foreign investment,” Fabrizi said.

According to him, Serbia needs to reform its state-owned enterprises and strengthen competition.

Fonet

“Brussels has recommended all Serbian institutions to keep their focus on EU accession,” Fabrizi noted.

2018 is crucial for enlargement of the EU, he said, adding that the EU is experiencing a revival of pro-enlargement sentiment.

“The Western Balkans should be feeling the same. We should all be moving in the same direction,” Fabrizi said, noting that the EU is committed to its own reforms, the enlargement being one of them.

Brnabic: Serbia truly wants to join the EU

Serbia’s EU path can be a success only if the reforms are effectively implemented, said Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, noting that Serbia truly wants to join the EU.

“The road to the EU is tough and full of challenges, but we will not take any shortcuts,” Brnabic said and listed the three pillars of reform: economic reform, describing it as the most successful, public administration reform and the rule of law which “poses the most challenges.”

Brnabic said that freedom of speech was not up for debate as it represents an internationally accepted standard.

As a Government, we bear a heavy responsibility to secure an atmosphere in which dialogue is encouraged and valued, said Brnabic, the first Prime Minister to attend a Convention’s Plenary.

Director of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence Sonja Liht said that she feared the EU Enlargement Strategy would last less than expected and that the Union “will lose patience waiting for us until 2025.”

“Which makes it all the more important to work together to build democratic institutions,” Sonja Liht said.

Head of Government’s EU accession negotiating team Tanja Miscevic said that Report’s evaluations were taken into account, adding that more attention should be paid to recommendations.

“Possibly” another five chapters will be opened in the coming period, she said.