Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, who spoke at the gathering along with Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi and Bulgarian Ambassador in Belgrade Ratko Vlajkov, said that expectations are great with regard to the continuation of the EU enlargement process. She added that this is supported by the fact that the enlargement topic has been included in the agendas of Bulgaria, which is currently holding presidency of the EU, as well as Austria and Romania that will assume presidency after Bulgaria.
In addition, Joksimović emphasised that Serbia views as extremely positive EC President Jean-Claude Juncker’s statement that Serbia and Montenegro are the leading candidates from the Western Balkans for EU accession, indicating 2025 as the accession deadline.
“I expect that the EU Enlargement Strategy, announced for February this year, will preserve the spirit of Juncker’s message and emphasise the role of Serbia and Montenegro as leaders in this process, but that it will also give a chance to all other aspirants from the Western Balkans that are undergoing the process”, said Joksimović.
She announced that after the adoption of the Enlargement Strategy in early February, the report on the progress of individual countries on their EU path will ensue in April, followed by the EU - Western Balkans Summit scheduled for 17 May in Sofia. The Minister said that these represent a series of important events that bring focus back to EU enlargement, as well as to the Western Balkans itself, where Serbia is presented as one of the most important EU candidates.
Speaking about negotiation chapters, Joksimović underlines that in the negotiations with the EU Serbia has three prepared negotiating positions that the EU Member States had before them in December, namely negotiating positions for chapters 33, 13 and 9. She further emphasised that the negotiating position for Chapter 18 - Statistics is under final preparations and should soon be submitted for adoption to the Government of Serbia, adding that the negotiating position for Chapter 4 on the free movement of capital is also under preparation.
The Minister commended the priorities of the six-month Bulgarian presidency of the EU, stating that it is also a significant segment for Serbia’s progress, because Bulgaria is an important partner of Serbia on its European path.
Joksimović adds that the priorities Bulgaria has set within its presidency of the EU - investing in youth, sustainable economic growth, social cohesion and digitisation - are also the focus of Serbia, the Ministry of European Integration, institutions dealing with European integration and the civil society.
“Those are instruments for sustainable, regional and overall development of Serbia”, infers Joksimović, adding that those are the most important topics within Chapter 22 dealing with regional development and cohesion policy. This chapter is not yet on the agenda, but the Ministry of European Integration is intensely working on its preparation.
Minister Joksimović stressed that Serbia continues its path towards the EU which it considers as the best economic, political and security framework for stabilisation.
The host of today’s gathering in Belgrade, Bulgarian Ambassador Ratko Vlajkov, said that support of Serbian citizens to European progress and integration is extremely important, adding that the Bulgarian people also “felt how painful integration can be”, but that the price is worth paying.
“Be united and strong, because that is what makes up the strength of a country”, underlined Vlajkov.
The Ambassador says that for Bulgaria, the EU presidency means challenge and responsibility for which they had been preparing for years, enabling them to be ready to assume presidency six months earlier, after Great Britain withdrew from the community during its presidency.
According to him, Bulgarian presidency will be directed at providing security, solidarity and stability to Europe and European citizens, which is their long-term goal.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Sem Fabrizi, said at the gathering in Belgrade that the EU stands by Serbia and that it will support its economic, political and social reforms which he hopes will accelerate in the future.
Source: Tanjug
