J. Joksimović and Giaufret: Joint efforts to accelerate European integration

September 10 2021 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović and Giaufret: Joint efforts to accelerate European integration

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has met today with the new Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret. They have discussed Serbia’s European integration and cooperation with EU institutions in that process.

Wishing the Ambassador a successful term in Serbia, Joksimović has expressed her belief that the EU and Serbia will continue to implement activities aimed at accelerating Serbia’s European path.

“The Government of Serbia has accelerated the implementation of reforms aimed at meeting the requirements necessary for a more dynamic accession process. We have already met the opening benchmarks for cluster 3 – Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth and cluster 4 – Green Deal and Sustainable Connectivity, and we are particularly working on improving the rule of law and other elements necessary for greater democratisation of society within opened cluster 1 – Fundamentals”, said the Minister.

Minister Joksimović has stressed that the revised EU enlargement methodology implies greater political involvement in the process, as well as responsibility of the key institutions of candidate countries.

She has underlined that the EU Delegation will therefore continue to have Serbian highest officials as partners to work with on accelerating the accession negotiations, and, accordingly, on strengthening the credibility of the enlargement process both at the Western Balkans and in the EU itself.

Joksimović has particularly stressed the importance of a highly successful cooperation with the EU Delegation and the EC on programming and monitoring the realisation of projects financed from EU pre-accession funds, bearing in mind that their primary goal is to help Serbia implement the most demanding reforms in the most efficient and economical way possible.

According to the MEI press release, Head of the EU Delegation Emanuele Giaufret has thanked the Minister for the warm welcome, confirming that his term will be based on supporting Serbia’s accession to the European Union, which is the goal of both Serbia and the EU and its Member States.

“In facing future challenges and building an inclusive, sustainable, safe and prosperous future, Serbia will be stronger with the European Union and the Union will be stronger with Serbia”, stated Giaufret.

He has expressed his commitment to supporting the government’s efforts to implement key reforms in the rule of law, economy and environment, which will make Serbia stronger and will accelerate its accession to the EU.

At a separate meeting, Joksimović has introduced Emanuele Giaufret with the coordinators of six negotiation clusters within the negotiating structure of the Serbian Government. The Minister has emphasised that she expects concrete and significant progress in the membership negotiations, which should be the result of the Government’s work in all reform areas, particularly in cluster 1 – Fundamentals.

The Head of the EU Delegation has welcomed the opportunity to see the new negotiating structure of Serbia right at the beginning of his term, adding that he will continuously and directly work with its representatives on meeting the requirements of the accession process.

Source: Tanjug