Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has said today that by the end June Serbia could open two new chapters in accession negotiations with the European Union.
After the meeting with Commissioner Johannes Hahn in Brussels, she announced the signing of a part of pre-accession funds in the amount of EUR 42 million and funds for farmers worth EUR 175 million in grants.
“What is positive is the fact that by the end of June I expect us to have two new opened chapters. I assume those will be Chapter 33 - Financial and budgetary provisions and Chapter 13 on fisheries”, announced Joksimović.
She has stressed that Serbia has more chapters prepared for opening and that it will continue to work on the preparation of further negotiating positions.
“I think this shows that the positive trend continues. If there wasn’t any progress, we wouldn’t open any chapters. Although we would like that there were more, and I think that maybe there should have been more, such is the process in the EU where various kinds of political turbulences and unexpected events happen”, said Joksimović.
After the meeting with Commissioner Johannes Hahn, the Minister of European Integration also announced the signing of new funds in the field of pre-accession assistance (IPA) and an agreement within the European Agricultural Fund (IPARD).
“What is extremely important is that I have agreed with Commissioner Hahn on the signing of the IPARD financial agreement on funds for farmers, which will be signed for the first time. The agreement implies EUR 175 million in grants by 2020”, said Joksimović.
She has announced that by the end of June Serbia should sign a part of financial assistance from pre-accession funds for 2017 in the amount of EUR 42 million out of a total of EUR 138 million.
“We have been good in programming and finding the best projects to be supported by the European Commission. I am negotiating with the Commission on projects that are most mature and on the areas where we should use the funds. We have been good at it, which is why next year we will be rewarded with some more money”, said Minister Joksimović.
She has announced that she will meet with the ambassadors of all Member States on Thursday in Brussels, so as to present them Serbia’s progress and expectations on its Eurointegration path, but also to hear the expectations of the EU.
“We should all be positive and look towards a positive future. The EU has eventually offered something to everyone, and every country has found its benefit in the EU, primarily a project of peace, stability, as well as economic prosperity. This is why everything President Vučić and this Government have been promoting for years is important“, stated Joksimović.
Source: Tanjug
