Brussels, 18/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 17 July, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle announced in Belgrade that the European Commission will be presenting the draft negotiating framework for Serbia's membership of the EU “next week”. One European source has indicated this will be on 23 July.
“Next week, we will present the draft negotiating framework to the EU member states”, said Füle during a press conference with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, in Belgrade. The overarching aim is to hold the first accession conference in January 2014 at the very latest.
The commissioner also said the screening of negotiating chapters will begin from September this year. Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights, chapter 24 on justice and security and chapter 32 on financial control are the first in line.
The commissioner underlined that, in parallel, Serbia should take several measures including the establishment of structures needed for the negotiating process, “in particular the appointment of a chief negotiator”. Also, the country must continue to prioritise the European agenda.
Füle explained that the accession process will last several years. “Serbia has embarked upon an ambitious journey, but I have full trust in the capacity of the Serbia government and of the Serbian people to deliver on this ambitious goal”, he said, asserting that Belgrade had accomplished the “last phase in its relations with the European Union before acquiring full membership”. (CG/transl.jl)