Strasbourg, 16/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 16 January, the European Parliament stated that it is looking forward to the official start of the accession negotiations with Serbia on 21 January, believing that the intergovernmental conference “is a historic step and demonstrates the EU's commitment to Serbia's accession”. In the report by Jelko Kacin (ALDE, Slovenia) that they adopted (528 votes for, 43 against and 51 abstentions), MEPs encourage Belgrade to continue its systemic and socio-economic reforms. MEPs thus call for the reform efforts to be stepped up, and call for acceleration in the reform of the justice system, and reforms in support of freedom of the media, and protection of human rights - including those of minorities and vulnerable categories.
MEPs underlined the need to work tirelessly for the effective implementation of the national strategy for the fight against corruption and of the 2013-2018 action plan, as a condition laid down by the EU and without which accession will not come about. Corruption and organised crime are an obstacle to Serbia's democratic, social and economic development, Parliament adds. It also calls for stronger political commitment for reform of public administration. MEPs stress the importance of structural changes to the economy, reforms that are “overdue”, and the importance of consolidating the budget, of social dialogue, of fighting unemployment and poverty, and of improving the business environment. Parliament hails the constructive attitude of the Serbian government with regard to its neighbourhood relations. (CG/transl.fl)