“Serbia has made sustainable progress on the EU path, which led to the opening of first four chapters and confirmed its genuine strategic goal, that is the approximation to the Union,“ said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport after having handed the latest European Commission Report on Serbia to Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
At a joint press conference, Davenport commended Serbia’s efforts to regulate its public sector, support the economy by implementing ambitious reform, and attract investors.
“All of this is underpinned by reform in the area of rule of law and job creation as well as prospects of higher salaries,“ Ambassador Davenport said.
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He said the EU was Serbia’s biggest partner in terms of investment and affordable loans, adding that the EU also invested in Serbian youth by allowing it to study abroad.
Davenport said that Serbia’s constructive role in the region, the one contributing to peace and reconciliation, was the crucial principle fostered by the EU among its partners.
“This is why it is necessary to remain committed to the normalisation of relations with Kosovo,“ Davenport said.
Noting that Serbia played a constructive role in tackling migrant crisis, Davenport said he would soon sign the agreement on additional EU financial assistance with Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
He said the EU would support reform aimed at combating organised crime, adding that the EU stood by Serbia in both good and difficult times.
“My Delegation stands ready to support Serbia in acting on recommendations made in this year’s Report in every way possible,” Davenport said and added that the EU Delegation would continue to provide sector support as was the case during the floods.
Vucic: It is important that Serbia is making progress in nearly all chapters
Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said the European Commission’s Report on Serbia was largely realistic and seriously composed, adding that it was important that Serbia made progress in nearly all chapters.
He said he did not necessarily have to agree with everything laid out in the Report.
As he put it, it is important that our political role in the region and in the migrant crisis was highly assessed: “What matters to us the most is that the EU, the IMF and the World Bank recognise our economic progress and growth. The Report states that our growth was stronger than expected, attracting a large number of investors thanks to improved and altered business environment,” Vucic said.
Prime Minister added that Serbia had a lot of work ahead, i.e. to make justice system more efficient.
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When it comes to chapter 31 (foreign, security and defence policy), Prime Minister Vucic said he took notice of the comments regarding Serbia’s cooperation with the International Court of Justice concerning extradition of three members of Serbian Radical Party, and the analysis of the country’s relations with the USA, Russia and China.
Vucic thanked the European Union on its financial assistance in the aftermath of 2014 floods and the knowledge transferred to Serbia civil servants.
“To us, this is as important as the money,” Vucic said.
“Serbia remains on the European path and wants to be a part of European society, we will persevere in this struggle because we want the economy to progress,” Vucic said.
When it comes to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Vucic said he expected to see progress in future, adding that leaving issues “frozen“ and unresolved is never a good thing as it meant leaving them to our children. Prime Minister said Serbia was a loyal partner of the EU, adding that numerous representatives of various EU countries could be reassured of such loyalty.
“Hard work is ahead of us. I hope new chapters would be opened soon followed by closure of the already opened. But I am truly convinced that Serbia is moving quickly toward the full-fledged membership in the EU,“ Vucic said.
He said he was puzzled by certain parts of the Report such as the part about chapter 31 which dealt with cooperation between Serbian Progressive Party and United Russia party.
“I took notice of the analysis of our relations with the USA, Russia, China… I did not get the part of the Report which dealt with agreements between Serbian Progressive Party and United Russia because I could not establish the connection between those agreements and the analysis of state policy,“ Vucic said. He added that regardless of the fact that “it made no value judgment” he accepted those remarks.
What is far more important, however, is the message expressing gratitude to the Union for supporting Serbia in difficult times and times of crisis.
“We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to the EU, not only for flood relief, but also for any difficult situation we have ever faced. I am grateful to the citizens of the European Union not only for their money, but also for their support,“ Prime Minister said.
Davenport: I expect new chapters to be opened by the end of 2016
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Asked by the press to comment on the opening of new chapters within EU-Serbia accession negotiations, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said that four chapters were opened since the previous Report on Serbia, adding that “next chapters are expected to be opened by the end of 2016“.
Davenport said the European Commission recommended the opening of chapter 5 dealing with public procurement, adding it was up to Member States to reach the final decision.
“Chapter 5 is very important, not only because it introduced transparent and professional practice in public procurement, but because it represented an important tool in fighting against corruption,“ he said.
Davenport said the EU would continue to work intensively with Serbian Government on the implementation of chapters 23 and 24 opened in July and other areas as well.
