President Aleksandar Vučić’s visit to Brussels and today’s meetings with EU leaders have shown that Serbia demonstrates a stable pro-European commitment and commitment to the implementation of serious reforms, which, according to President Vučić’s announcement, will be accelerated and more comprehensive after the elections, as stated by Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović.
She has emphasised that Serbia will continue its dedicated work along the European path, stressing that she hopes and expects that the new Government will more strongly embrace the European agenda as the main reform path of development.
Joksimović has further recalled the statement Vučić has made in Brussels today, following the meeting with all EC representatives who are particularly important for Serbia, in which he announced that Serbia could become an EU member in the following five to six years.
“I still believe, as I did in 2018 when Juncker’s credible strategy for the Western Balkans envisaged the possibility of Serbia becoming a member in 2025, that it is a task for the entire society,” said Joksimović.
She has assessed that it is a task that currently engages the entire society in a more difficult way than it used to 10 years ago, but that will eventually bring benefits to all Serbian citizens.
“We have already done a lot, and I expect that, with the new Government, we will accelerate our European path and that we will be more committed to the reform obligations stemming from the European integration process,” stated Joksimović.
She has emphasised that “the decision of certain member states to not give consent for the opening of new chapters with Serbia – despite it having five chapters prepared for opening – is a political message whose direction we have understood, but at the same time, I believe it was not really necessary.”
Joksimović has added that the story that there has not been sufficient progress in chapters 23 and 24 is not entirely founded in facts, because the Non-paper has noted significant activities in Chapter 23, particularly the adoption of the media strategy which is an extremely important part of the chapter.
As regards Chapter 24 addressing security, asylum, fight against organised, and migration, it has been positively assessed.
Joksimović has noted the importance of the fact that it has been agreed that the regular progress report for Serbia will be presented in early autumn, during the German presidency, adding that it will be a chance to support Serbia’s European path.
Source: Tanjug
