Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has met with German Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb. On the occasion, the Minister has emphasised the importance of the development cooperation between Germany and Serbia, noting that, through numerous development projects, Germany has invested over EUR 2 billion in Serbia in the form of favourable loans and grants.
Ambassador Schieb has stressed that Germany strongly supports Serbia’s path towards the European Union, adding that the support is primarily reflected in Germany’s continuous efforts to help Serbia achieve European standards in the areas covered by negotiations chapters, particularly those related to the rule of law.
Joksimović and Schieb have also discussed the developments in Serbia’s European integration process, Germany’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council, further improvement of relations between the two countries, the upcoming elections in Serbia and other relevant political topics at the national and international level.
Talking about the pace of the European integration process, Minister Joksimović has expressed her expectation that the European Commission’s non-paper on Serbia’s progress, which should be published by the end of the week, will provide enough elements for member states to support the opening of some of the five chapters Serbia is completely prepared for.
Joksimović also expects that the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, will begin his term with a fundamental exchange of opinions regarding the achievements within the Brussels Agreement, particularly given the fact that the Community of Serb Municipalities has not yet been formed.
As regards the upcoming elections, Joksimović has informed the Ambassador on all activities aimed at improving the electoral conditions, which have been implemented as the result of the inter-party dialogue mediated by the European Parliament, stressing her belief that the elections will be fair and democratic.
Ambassador Schieb has emphasised the importance of implementing all election-related recommendations so that the overall election process would be further democratically strengthened.
With regard to Germany taking over the EU presidency from Croatia of 1 July, Schieb has noted that the presidency will be committed to the recovery and further strengthening of the European Union following the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Both the EU enlargement and the Western Balkans are our priority,” said Schieb.
Joksimović and Schieb have underlined that the firm relations between Serbia and Germany are primarily based on a continuous and constructive political dialogue at the highest level, and on extensive and highly successful economic cooperation.
Source: Tanjug
