Brussels, 28/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 28 June, the heads of state and/or government decided to open accession negotiations with Serbia, thus following the recommendations that their foreign ministers made on 25 June (see EUROPE 10874). The decision to fix a date is “a historic decision”, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso stressed.
“The first intergovernmental conference with Serbia” will be held at the latest in January 2014, the European Council said. A conference in 2013 does not, however, seem likely. The first intergovernmental conference could be held in January 2014 on condition that Serbia sets what has been decided in place, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, explaining that implementation will be the “decisive factor” but acknowledging that Belgrade has made “remarkable progress” in its relations with Kosovo. Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta also underlined that negotiations would begin in January 2014.
Before the conference, the Council of the EU is expected to adopt the framework for negotiations and that framework should be confirmed by the European Council. EU leaders have not specified whether it will be the European Council on 24 and 25 October or that scheduled for 19 or 20 December. Nonetheless, Merkel said that the European Council in December will discuss the question of Serbia in order to take stock of progress made and to approve the negotiation framework.
The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, underlined that the European Council will only confirm the negotiation framework, saying the normal procedure will be followed as there are no extra conditions to be added.
Approving the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 25 June, the European Council invited the Commission to present “without delay” a proposal for the negotiation framework integrating the new approach of chapters on the power of the judiciary and fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security (chapters 23 and 24 of the negotiations) and to successfully complete the analytical examination of the acquis communautaire in Serbia.
Describing the 19 April agreement (see EUROPE 10831) as a “major step”, the European Council underlined that it remains essential for visible and sustainable progress to be continued towards normalisation so that Kosovo and Serbia can continue along their respective paths towards Europe. The heads of state and government invited the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and the Commission to continue to report on progress in implementing the agreement. (CG with AN, MB and FG/transl.jl)