J. Joksimović: EP Resolution – reflection of various parties’ political positions

February 25 2021 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović: EP Resolution – reflection of various parties’ political positions

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has stated today that the European Parliament is an important forum and institution where, just like in national parliaments, there are various political groups with politically hued positions which do not always match the official positions of the European Commission on some issues. 

This is how Joksimović responded in the Serbian National Assembly when she was asked to comment on the fact that Viola von Cramon, the EP Rapporteur for Kosovo, invited the rest of the countries to recognise the so-called independent Kosovo and to give the green light to the visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens.

“There is no need to delve so much into what the EP Rapporteur for so-called Kosovo has said, because Mrs Von Cramon has continuously demonstrated an extremely harsh critical position on Serbia on several topics, but this certainly is an important political issue for us. The European Parliament is a forum for debate among so many different parties, from liberals, greens, the European People’s Party, and even the extreme right, so you can hear all sorts of things there”, said Joksimović.

She has added that the work of the European Parliament is somewhat similar to the work of national parliaments, while, on the other hand, it significantly differs from national parliaments in certain segments.

She has explained that one of the differences is that each adopted amendment to the proposed Resolution on, for instance, Serbia or another country in the accession process, is the result of a compromise and an agreement among all parties comprised in a single text. 

“In my talks with European Parliament members and the Rapporteur for Serbia, Bilčík, I have insisted on multiple occasions that extremely critical amendments be left in their original form, so that we would see which of the European Parliament political groups have such an explicitly negative narrative towards Serbia”, said Joksimović.

She has added that, however, the practice of the European Parliament is agreement, which is why those “allegedly compromise amendments” in the resolutions on various candidate countries often contain texts that are sometimes overly critical or overly positive for some reports.

Joksimović has stressed that the European Parliament is, nonetheless, an important debate forum that influences public opinion.

She has noted that the Resolution on Serbia has not yet been adopted, only the amendments at the Foreign Affairs Committee, adding that the Resolution will be adopted on 24 March.

Commenting on the statement made by the EP Rapporteur for so-called Kosovo, Joksimović has said that she is a representative of the German green party and that she expressed her own political views, not the official European Commission’s policy.

She has stressed that the European Commission has to be status-neutral, because, as she has recalled, five EU members do not recognise Kosovo.

“That is why so-called Kosovo could not sign a regular Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, because, for it to be complete, it has to be ratified in the parliaments of all member states”, said Joksimović.

She has noted that EC Spokesperson Peter Stano has denied the information that Miroslav Lajčák delivers an ultimatum to Serbia and that there will be pressures on Serbia to recognise so-called Kosovo.

“We are well aware of the positions of certain influential EU members, but the European Commission must remain status neutral”, underlined Joksimović.

Source: Tanjug