Brussels, 21/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppé underlined during an interview with the Serbian daily Vercernje Novosti on Tuesday 21 February that “it is plain Serbia's destiny is to be part of Europe”. He said he sincerely hoped Serbia would obtain candidate status at the General Affairs Council on 28 February. Speaking of the country's considerable progress in political reform, cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and in dialogue with Kosovo, Juppé explained that “Serbia deserves to move into a new stage on its road to the European Union”.
On the subject of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, the minister asserted it is “essential for a clear signal to be given regarding implementation of integrated border management” by 28 February, and that the EULEX mission should be able to freely carry out its mandate in northern Kosovo. He went on to add: “Restoring normal relations between the two countries is a political necessity. (…) Each party must demonstrate the authenticity of its European commitment and its determination to make the necessary effort. To be perfectly honest, there is no other alternative.”
Support for Serbia from European Parliament vice-president. According to the Serbian radio, the vice-president of the European Parliament, Laszlo Surjan (EPP, Hungary), announced on Monday 20 February after his meeting with the speaker of the parliament of Voïvodine, the autonomous province of Serbia, that he was personally convinced that Serbia would gain candidate status during the March European Council. Specifying that all Western Balkan states should join the EU, he felt it was indispensable to make an additional effort to persuade certain members who are seeking to put a brake on the enlargement process. (CG/transl.jl)