Head of the EU delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert says the door of the EU is open for Serbia, which after Croatia’s could be the next candidate.
Degert said that the EU does not need new problems, and in that respect it wants normalization in relations between Belgrade and Priština. “The EU does not demand the recognition, the EU has never requested that,” Degert said for the Belgrade-based TV Pink.
The EU wants good neighborly relations, free flow of goods and people. Therefore, a solution must be found, step by step, in order to build up the trust between partners, and the dialogue is the only means for that.
Degert voiced expectation that the Serbian parliament will discuss a resolution on Kosovo on Saturday, and come up with a solution, which would facilitate resumption of the dialogue.
He said that the Belgrade-Priština dialogue should address the issues related to electric energy, Telekom and the cooperation with EULEX.
Together with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, EU foreign ministers will on December 5 consider what Serbia and Montenegro have achieved with regard to the implementation of reforms and other conditions for EU accession.
Following the meeting, they will present their opinion to EU heads of state and government which will meet on December 9. They will decide on the European Commission’s recommendation that Serbia merits the candidate status, and a date for commencement of the accession talks provided that it meets certain conditions.
According to Degert, the officials will take into account internal reforms, regional cooperation, the situation in Kosovo. As regards the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, the EU would want to see certain improvements.
Degert said that if Serbia becomes the EU candidate country, the next step will be opening of the accession talks.
Asked about the charges which Serbia and Croatia filed to the International Court of Justice in The Hague against each other, Degert said that the EU insists that bilateral issues should be resolved earlier, so as not to impede the talks with the EU.
