Serbia`s accession to the European Union will depend on the progress in realisation of Chapters 23 and 24,referring to security and judiciary, and 35 – normalisation of relations with Pristina, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said after the meeting with Director General of the European Commission`s Directorate for Enlargement Christian Danielsson.

Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic has stated today that prospect of negotiations on accession to the European Union will depend on the progress in realisation of Chapters 23 and 24,referring to security and judiciary, and 35 – normalisation of relations with Pristina.

In case of any halts in these chapters, the EU negotiations will also be halted and, therefore, we have to pay the maximum possible attention to these issues, Dacic said after the meeting with Director General of the European Commission`s Directorate for Enlargement Christian Danielsson.

Support of European Commission

He expressed the hope that Serbia could open Chapters 23 and 24 by the end of the year, and that Chapter 35 could be also opened soon, and that it is important for Serbia to see which new chapters could be opened by the next Intergovernmental conference with the EU, on 25 June, whether chapter on finance control or education and culture.

European Commission is inclined to Serbia and its fast progress in European integrations and Serbia must take advantage of that, concluded Dacic.

He said that therefore, it is time for fast and serious steps in reforms and in the dialogue with Pristina, which will affect beginning of the opening and closing of certain chapters.

Dacic again expressed his hope that Serbia would be institutionally prepared to become a member in 2018, and that it would really become that in 2020, which will be decided on by the people on referendum.

Difficult path

Results of that referendum will show how vain stories that citizens do not want to the EU were, assessed he.

The calculation is absolutely clear – there is no greater interest for Serbia, than to be an EU member, and it is up to us now to accelerate that path, concluded Dacic.

Danielsson said that he talked with Dacic about hard and difficult work that Serbia will face on its path to the EU, because accession process implies changes in many areas.

European Commission looks forward to cooperate with the Government of Serbia and everyone involved in this process, he emphasised.