Joksimović: Serbia is a persistent and consistent candidate for EU membership

June 27 2019 | Brussels

Joksimović: Serbia is a persistent and consistent candidate for EU membership

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, after the opening of another chapter in Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU and following the signing of the IPA 2018 pre-accession assistance amounting to EUR 179.1 million, has assessed that Serbia cannot be dissatisfied with what has been achieved.

"We are not losing our momentum nor our breath in the accession process. Not all news from the region are good regarding the accession process and the enlargement policy. I think that Serbia cannot be dissatisfied," Joksimović has said in Brussels.

Following the EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference at which Chapter 9 in the accession negotiations has been opened, Jadranka Joksimović has said that more chapters could have been opened, but that Serbia will not complain about the treatment and will continue to work persistently and consistently in the reform process that aims at reforms important for both the citizens and Serbia's full EU membership.

"With the opening of Chapter 9, which relates to financial services, successful economic reforms implemented by the Serbian government, thereby ensuring the financial and macroeconomic stability of the country, have been recognized. In addition, the opening of this chapter will contribute to further ensuring of a safer, more efficient financial system of the Republic of Serbia," Joksimović has stressed.

She has assessed that further harmonisation with EU standards in the fields of banking, insurance, capital markets, and investment services will provide long-term legal and financial security that is in the interest of financial institutions, potential investors, but, first of all, the citizens of Serbia.

After the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, Minister Joksimović has signed a financial agreement within the framework of the pre-accession assistance for 2018 with European Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

"These funds have already been programmed and they amount to EUR 179.1 million in grants. The funds will help with implementing reforms, especially in the field of rule of law, with improving projects in the fields of environmental protection, tourism infrastructure, and sustainable development through innovations, with employing hard-to-employ groups, and with housing vulnerable groups," the Minister of European Integration of Serbia has said.

Reflecting on the recent European Commission's Progress Report in regard to Serbia's European integration path, Minister Joksimović has stressed that Serbia, as a voluntary partner in the European integration process, responsibly acknowledges all the recommendations and findings that the European Commission observes in this process in certain areas.

When asked by the journalists whether the opening of one chapter is a warning to Serbia by the EU about the reform process, Joksimović has replied that every responsible government primarily receives warnings from its citizens, and that we certainly acknowledge the recommendations given by the EU, and we have already adopted some of them. She has assessed that the report has indicated overall progress, and that there may have been conditions for opening two new chapters.

"The decision on the number of opened chapters is not always and exclusively based on technical criteria, as it also depends on internal political situations both in the EU and in certain countries. We will accept suggestions and everything that might prove to be quicker and better for the benefit of the citizens of Serbia," Joksimović has said.

She has concluded that Serbia will be a "very boring" EU membership candidate, as it will "persistently implement reforms" and expect the European Commission to recognize the enlargement process as an important policy and Serbia as an important EU membership candidate.

Source: TanjugMinister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, after the opening of another chapter in Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU and following the signing of the IPA 2018 pre-accession assistance amounting to EUR 179.1 million, has assessed that Serbia cannot be dissatisfied with what has been achieved.

"We are not losing our momentum nor our breath in the accession process. Not all news from the region are good regarding the accession process and the enlargement policy. I think that Serbia cannot be dissatisfied," Joksimović has said in Brussels.

Following the EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference at which Chapter 9 in the accession negotiations has been opened, Jadranka Joksimović has said that more chapters could have been opened, but that Serbia will not complain about the treatment and will continue to work persistently and consistently in the reform process that aims at reforms important for both the citizens and Serbia's full EU membership.

"With the opening of Chapter 9, which relates to financial services, successful economic reforms implemented by the Serbian government, thereby ensuring the financial and macroeconomic stability of the country, have been recognized. In addition, the opening of this chapter will contribute to further ensuring of a safer, more efficient financial system of the Republic of Serbia," Joksimović has stressed.

She has assessed that further harmonisation with EU standards in the fields of banking, insurance, capital markets, and investment services will provide long-term legal and financial security that is in the interest of financial institutions, potential investors, but, first of all, the citizens of Serbia.

After the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, Minister Joksimović has signed a financial agreement within the framework of the pre-accession assistance for 2018 with European Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

"These funds have already been programmed and they amount to EUR 179.1 million in grants. The funds will help with implementing reforms, especially in the field of rule of law, with improving projects in the fields of environmental protection, tourism infrastructure, and sustainable development through innovations, with employing hard-to-employ groups, and with housing vulnerable groups," the Minister of European Integration of Serbia has said.

Reflecting on the recent European Commission's Progress Report in regard to Serbia's European integration path, Minister Joksimović has stressed that Serbia, as a voluntary partner in the European integration process, responsibly acknowledges all the recommendations and findings that the European Commission observes in this process in certain areas.

When asked by the journalists whether the opening of one chapter is a warning to Serbia by the EU about the reform process, Joksimović has replied that every responsible government primarily receives warnings from its citizens, and that we certainly acknowledge the recommendations given by the EU, and we have already adopted some of them. She has assessed that the report has indicated overall progress, and that there may have been conditions for opening two new chapters.

"The decision on the number of opened chapters is not always and exclusively based on technical criteria, as it also depends on internal political situations both in the EU and in certain countries. We will accept suggestions and everything that might prove to be quicker and better for the benefit of the citizens of Serbia," Joksimović has said.

She has concluded that Serbia will be a "very boring" EU membership candidate, as it will "persistently implement reforms" and expect the European Commission to recognize the enlargement process as an important policy and Serbia as an important EU membership candidate.

Source: Tanjug