Opening of Chapters 23 and 24 under negotiations with European Union could happen in spring 2015 “in best case scenario”, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport told joint session of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and European Integration Committees.
Presenting the Annual Progress Report for Serbia to MPs of the two committees, Davenport said that the opening of Chapters concerning fundamental and human rights, rule of law and justice reform could happen in spring 2015 provided that everything was carried out as expected and in line with highly complex action plans that required Government’s unprecedented cooperation and strong coordination.
“These are the issues of key importance and have to be placed in the very beginning of negotiations,” Davenport said, adding that in the next six months focus would be on preparations for opening of the two Chapters.
Davenport also said that the EU wanted to see reactivation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina at the highest political level.
He said that there was a need for deep reforms of public sector and administration, which would be challenging for Serbia, adding that a way to include Parliament and civil society in the negotiating process must be found.
Davenport said it was well that Parliament had adopted a number of crucial laws, notably sets of laws in the area of economy and media, but added that Parliament was also there to take care that their implementation went according to plan.
