Serbian Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović reveals for Espreso the actual state of Serbia’s European path, how many chapters are to be opened by the end of June, and what obstacles Serbia would be facing on that road.
In the previous several days, a lot of dust had been raised in conjunction with Serbia’s European path. At first, discussions were held on the European Commission's Report, and at the end, the media reported on the opening of only one chapter over the course of June. What is accurate? What are only rumours? We asked Jadranka Joksimović.
What kind of decision do you expect in June?
- Over the course of June, Member States shall be deciding on how many chapters out of 5 that we have technically prepared would be opened at the intergovernmental conference that is expected to be held by the end of the Romanian Presidency - by the end of June. The decision shall be passed on the basis of what the Progress Report follows - overall progress in chapters 23 and 24, as well as implementation of the Brussels Agreement, which is followed through Chapter 35.
What can Serbia realistically expect?
- In relation to these criteria, and our results, it would be realistic to expect the opening of 2 chapters. However, from the beginning of the year I have been speaking about the fact that in the first half of the year I did not expect an intensified dynamics of negotiations, primarily because of the complete focus of Members States on the European elections and post-election combinatorics.
Do we nevertheless have a reason to worry?
- There is a quiet and concerning EU calculation in relation to the Western Balkan region and the fact that not very optimistic scenarios are linked to the start of negotiations for some in the region, so there are even ideas to create a certain unnecessary and artificial symmetry in respect of the poor progress achieved by all. That is not good and would not send an encouraging message.
What are the arguments of Serbia as regards the opening of two chapters in June?
- Some Member States are linking two chapters - 9 - Financial services and 4 - Free movement of capital with the removal of Serbia from FATF'’s black list, which shall certainly happen by the end of June and which also represents objective argument for opening these two chapters. The Progress Report, along with all its deficiencies in the methodological sense that were made through the introduction of political assessments I already mentioned, has nevertheless shown that progress has been achieved in chapters 23 and 24. As regards the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, I do not know whether there is a need to explain the situation in particular and which side has been working against its implementation. Therefore, even though we have not expected a more expeditious timetable for negotiations, we credibly expect at least a stable timetable, and at least 2 newly opened chapters, because otherwise this could be evaluated, in the context of everything I have already said, as slowing down Serbia. In any case, we are performing our work in respect of the reforms, step by step towards the EU; these steps are sometimes tiny, sometimes bigger, but it is vital to keep going forward, with hopes that the EU shall preserve the credibility of the enlargement policy.
Source: Espreso, author: Darko Zlojutro
