Brussels, 02/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 1 July, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle stressed that he wants the negotiating mandate with Serbia to be presented to the member states before the summer break, so as not to lose time. He said that the European Commission's draft negotiating framework was sent for inter-service consultation on 2 July.
The deputy director from the Commission's DG Enlargement will leave for Belgrade next week to begin discussions on how to tackle the screening of the chapters on the judicial apparatus and fundamental rights (23) and on freedom, justice and security (24), Füle told the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee. “I intend to start the screening [of the chapters] as soon as possible after the summer break”, he added. Füle will visit Serbia himself before the end of July. On 28 June, the European Council decided to open the accession negotiations with Belgrade. The intergovernmental conference must take place by January 2014 at the latest (see EUROPE 10877). (CG/transl.fl)