J. Joksimović and Bundestag members: Stability in the region – important for the EU as well

April 02 2019 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović and Bundestag members: Stability in the region – important for the EU as well

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has spoken with German Bundestag members Peter Beyer and Christian Schmidt about Serbia’s plans in the European integration process, reforms that are being implemented, situation in the region, bilateral relations and other topics.

Jadranka Joksimović has informed Beyer and Schmidt about future plans in the accession process, confirming that EU membership is Serbia’s strategic foreign policy priority and that Serbia is clearly committed to continuing European integration. She has thanked Germany, as Serbia’s strategic partner, for the overall assistance in the accession process, which is confirmed by the fact that, in the previous 15 years, Germany has allocated more than EUR 1.8 billion in grants for numerous development projects in Serbia.

The Minister has said that Serbia currently has 5 chapters that are technically prepared for opening and that it is working on preparing new ones, adding that Serbia expects to open some of them during the Romanian EU Council presidency.

Joksimović has emphasised that Serbia is dedicated to reforms that are a crucial segment of modernising the state and the society. Sha has noted that reforms in chapters 23 and 24 – judiciary, fight against crime and corruption, minority rights, media freedoms etc. – are particularly important for the continuation of European integration. She has reiterated that the Government has accepted and acknowledged all recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding constitutional amendments in the field of judiciary, and that it has conducted a transparent and inclusive public debate process. She has further noted that the Government has adopted the Law on Free Legal Aid and the Law on Personal Data Protection, adding that the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, the Law on the Origin of Property and the new Media Strategy are under preparation.

The Minister has introduced the Bundestag members with Serbia’s position on Kosovo and Metohija. She has underlined that the dialogue can continue after Pristina has repealed the decision on the introduction of taxes on goods from Central Serbia. She has stressed that Serbia advocates a sustainable solution for Kosovo and Metohija, warning that, in the past 6 six years, Pristina has not fulfilled a single obligation under the Brussels Agreement, the formation of the CSM being the most important one. Joksimović believes that it is vital that any solution reached through dialogue be supported by the EU.

Peter Beyer and Christian Schmidt have said that Germany will continue to support Serbia’s European integration, adding that progress achieved in reforms and meeting the criteria will be important for the opening of new chapters. They have further expressed their expectation that reforms, which according to them yield results, will be continued. The German Bundestag members have particularly emphasised the importance of economic reforms and stable macroeconomic environment. They have underlined the role Serbia has in establishing regional stability, noting that Serbia has proven to be a reliable partner to the EU.

The Bundestag members have stressed that fulfilling the undertaken obligations is the way for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to preserve its credibility and lead to a sustainable solution.

The interlocutors have assessed at the meeting that the relations of the two countries are at a high level, that there is mutual commitment to strengthening overall cooperation and that Germany is an important political and economic partner to Serbia.

Source: Tanjug