Following the Intergovernmental Conference on Serbia’s EU accession during which two chapters were opened – 5 on Public Procurement and 25 on Science and Research – with the latter being provisionally closed at the same time, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn and Foreign Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak said that the opening of chapters was good news for both Serbia and the EU.
Hahn: I believe Serbia will open more chapters in 2017 than it did in 2016
European Commissioner Hahn said that Serbia was on a good path as it had so far opened six chapters in the negotiations with the EU – it opened two chapters today, one of which it closed immediately.
Hahn expressed his belief that Serbia would open more chapters next year than it did in 2016, adding that it would soon open chapter 26 too, adding that the decision on the next steps would be made afterwards.
“Even though the final decision was to open only two chapters I believe that soon we will open chapter 26 as well. The EU has 28 Member States, we are always discussing the next steps. I am sure that the fact that chapter 26 has not been opened will not have an impact on the overall pace of the negotiation process as the chapter in question is among those that are closed immediately upon their opening,” Hahn said and added that he believed “we did not waste much time.”
Asked to comment on Serbian Prime Minister’s decision not to attend the Intergovernmental Conference, Hahn said he respected that Vucic had attended previous Conferences.
“Prime Minister Vucic has attended several of these Conferences that were not held at the level of Heads of State or Government and I regret he could not stay for today’s Conference. That was his decision. This Conference is held at the ministerial level, not the level of the Heads of Government. I am confident we will have another opportunity to meet and celebrate,” Commissioner Hahn said and added that he was aware that another rather important conference was being held in Belgrade at the same time.
Hahn believes that Serbia is on a good path because so far it has opened six chapters in the negotiations with the EU – it opened two today, one of which it closed immediately.
According to him, the level of quality has to be maintained, attention must be paid to crucial areas including the normalisation of relations with Pristina.
“Europe insists on security, peace, stability, prosperity in everything that you do in Serbia and that is in the interest of its citizens,” the Commissioner underlined.“
Lajcak: We encourage Serbia to continue the reform path
Foreign Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak stressed that the opening of negotiating chapters 5 and 25 was “another step forward and a significant achievement this year. The total number of opened chapters has now increased to six, which signalises Serbia’s progress on the overall path towards the EU,” Lajcak said.
According to him, this is tangible proof of the credibility of the enlargement process as a two-way street.
“We encourage Serbia to maintain a positive momentum and continue the reform path for the benefit of its citizens,” he said.
Lajcak, whose country presides over the EU until the end of 2016, stressed that further progress depended on reform and dialogue with Pristina which remained “essential”.
He expressed satisfaction with the fact that during Slovak presidency four chapters had been opened and one provisionally closed.
“Today’s conference is good news for both Serbia and the EU. Also, the Conference sends a strong message that the EU keeps working in these challenging times and is a tangible result yielded by our efforts to bring more enthusiasm and dynamics into the enlargement process,” Lajcak said.
He said that there was no consensus regarding the chapter 26, but reminded that during Slovak presidency Serbia opened four chapters, describing it as “a very good pace.”
Asked to comment on the fact that Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the Intergovernmental Conference, Lajcak said that the Conference was held at the “level of ministers not prime ministers. Minister Jadranka Joksimovic is here and the chapters are opened,” Lajcak said.
Lajcak pointed out that the opening of chapters was not a speed, but a quality contest, adding that Serbia should also see it as such.
Joksimovic: It is in our interest to reform the society
The Minister of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic said tonight that according to enlargement criteria Serbia deserved to open chapter 26 but that Croatia had the intention to block it temporarily.
Noting that Serbia was aware that the negotiating process carried such possibility, Joksimovic said she believed that this was not a good signal because chapter 26 covers education, youth, sport and culture and should be the basis for regional cooperation.
“We certainly don’t want to complain too much,” Joksimovic said and added: “It is important that we keep the dynamics of the negotiation process as the reform of the society is in our vital interest.”
