Luxembourg, 22/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Serbia held their first Stabilisation and Association Council on 21 October, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in attendance. “I am grateful to Ms Ashton for agreeing to chair this meeting, which she does not usually chair. That shows the importance the EU attaches to this meeting”, stated Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.
In its conclusions, the Council welcomed the entry into force of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) on 1 September 2013 and commended Serbia for its progress in 2013 on its path towards the European Union. The EU said that the SAA “is an important step for Serbia's EU integration process and that it provides the broad framework within which the EU and Serbia will intensify their co-operation on the political criteria, trade and legal approximation.” For Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, it means that Serbia is “closer to the EU”. “Our goal is to become a member of the EU as quickly as possible and to implement all that is necessary”, Dacic said, stating that Serbia is looking to consolidate its economy. The EU is the country's main trading partner.
The Council recalled the European Council conclusions of 28 June 2013 (see EUROPE 10877), which commend the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo for the progress achieved in the EU-facilitated dialogue on normalisation of relations, stating that it is “of importance in the context of Serbia's further progress in its EU accession that the 19 April agreement and all other agreements reached in the dialogue with Pristina are implemented in good faith”. On the sidelines of the meeting, Ashton and Dacic discussed the local elections to be held in Kosovo on 3 November. They both hope for a good turn-out. The EU welcomed the efforts of both sides to ensure a successful conduct of the elections, the Council conclusions state.
The Council also noted “positively” that the process of analytical examination of the acquis communautaire with Serbia began in September, starting with the chapters on the judiciary and fundamental rights and justice (23), and freedom and security (24).
The Council took note of the progress report adopted by the Commission on 16 October, a report described by Dacic as “the best report anyone has ever had”. (CG/transl.fl)