Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has stated for RTS that the general assessment is that Serbia has done more than it was noted and mentioned in the European Commission Report on Serbia.
As a guest of RTS Dnevnik, Jadranka Joksimović has said that the Report is generally positive because it notes progress in almost all areas, adding that there has been no backsliding in any area.
However, the Minister has said that there are areas which received a lot of political assessments and that perception has somewhat distorted the clarity of facts.
As she has explained, the Report must give a descriptive assessment based on facts.
Joksimović has also commented on parts of the Report that refer to the situation in the media, the National Assembly and the rule of law.
Regarding media freedom, the Minister has stated that the Report notes that there has been no progress, recalling that that the previous report listed all activities to be implemented.
She has underlined that all those activities have been implemented prior to the new report – the media strategy has been completed, everyone who threatened and attacked journalists has been processed, the historical case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija has been solved etc.
However, according to Joksimović, despite the fact that all this has been done, the conclusion is that there has been no progress, which, in her words, is not really logical and represents a political assessment.
With regard to the work of the parliament, the Minister has said that the report notes that the ruling majority’s practices prevented significant debate, while it also notes that the National Assembly Speaker invited the opposition to participate in the debate, but that it does not note the fact that they refused the invitation.
She has further added that the report notes that the protests were mainly peaceful, but that it does not note the incursion into the RTS building, which she also characterized as a political assessment.
EU to adopt mechanisms for Pristina
Jadranka Joksimović has said that Serbia has been commended for its judicial reform, fight against corruption, for economy and regional cooperation, national minorities etc.
With regard to the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue, Joksimović has said that it is noted as one of the crucial points based on which the possibility of opening new chapters is measured.
She has stated that the report mentions that Pristina has paralised the dialogue by introducing illegal taxes. Although Pristina is invited to “make effort” towards forming the CSM, the Minister has said that it is clear that there is no will for that because six years have already passed.
According to her, if there is will, it is clear what the EU should do as a guarantor of the Brussels Agreement – to adopt mechanisms for persuading Pristina to withdraw taxes.
She has emphasised that the taxes primarily breach the CEFTA Agreement, as well as the SAA that Pristina signed with the EU.
Jadranka Joksimović has further said that it is necessary to condemn Pristina’s activities in the north of Kosovo and Metohija in the previous two or three days.
She has added that Brussels has released a statement, but that it is not a clear condemnation Belgrade expected it to be.
Source: RTS
