During the first hundred days of its new mandate, the Government of the Republic of Serbia has shown its consistent determination towards continuing European integrations and adjusting the Serbian legislature with the standards of the European Union, Head of the Delegation of EU to Serbia Michael Davenport said in a statement on the occasion of 100 days of the government of Serbia.
A whole set of laws leading towards that direction has been adopted – just to mention the Labour Law, the Law on Bankruptcy, the Law on Privatisation and a set of media laws adopted on Saturday, which is a serious step towards long awaited implementation of the Media Strategy adopted in 2011. Measures have been taken towards fiscal consolidation that should bring results in the coming future.
The process of screening has continued without any delay, in accordance with the plan and in already agreed deadlines. So far, 18 out of 35 negotiation chapters have been apprehended with the screening and the process will last till March 2015. It should be noted that the European Council based its decision to start accession talks with Serbia on the Government’s proved determination to reforms, progress noticed in the process, but also the progress fulfilled in the process of normalisation of relations with Pristina.
During this period, the government has faced great problems caused by the unprecedented floods and its response to these problems is highly commendable. This is also an opportunity to stress excellent management and coordination by the Sector for Emergency Situations of the Interior Ministry with the biggest operation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism ever launched, which included 400 of its members from 13 countries who worked under the Interior Ministry command and together with the Serbian rescuers, firefighters, soldiers and civilians who were fighting to save their lives and property.
In regard of reconstruction and repairing all consequences of the floods, a lot of work is still to be done, works that will last for years, and the citizens of Serbia can rest assured that they will have the European Union’s assistance for that. The outcome of the Donor Conference which has provided almost one billion euros in donations and favourable loans show world’s solidarity and readiness to help the citizens of Serbia.
In the times ahead, the Government now faces a serious task to implement already adopted reform laws. To adopt good and proper laws is a serious job, but it is even more serious, and probably more difficult, to implement them consistently. Only the implementation of good laws brings results and better life for the citizens. Legislative activities must of course continue, but proper laws can be brought only as a result of wide and thorough public debate that includes all interested parties. Adopting laws by urgent procedure should be only an exception and more efforts should be made in planning the legislative activities.
Priorities that are ahead of the Serbian government, besides continuing works on normalisation of relations with Pristina are further consolidation of the economy and financial system, as well as in creating more favourable conditions for foreign investments through, for example, adoption of a new Law on Construction. Further strengthening of the rule of law and fundamental rights remains a priority, as well as an adoption of detailed Action Plan for implementation of European Commission recommendations for Chapters 23 and 24.
With the adoption of set of media laws, their implementation and especially adoption of sub-legal acts that will bring an order into state financing of media through project joint financing in a transparent and available way, under equal conditions for everyone also become one of the priorities. A deadline for state’s withdrawal from media ownership has already been set and it is necessary to help media throughout Serbia to prepare themselves for innovations that these laws have brought. EU will remain engaged in this field and journalists, journalists’ associations, state institutions and independent regulatory and self-regulatory bodies can count on our further support and assistance.
In October, the European Commission publishes its regular report on Serbia’s progress in the process of European integrations and it will consist of thorough analysis of everything done so far in the field of reforms.
