Brussels, 10/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - While recalling that Serbia's top foreign policy is EU accession, Serbia's Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic underlined that he was “not a fan” of the EU, but that being a member of it enabled funding to be received. “I'm not a fan of the EU but I can't see any better organisation that exists”, he said at a conference organised by the European Policy Center on Friday 10 October. “To be quite frank, we don't want to become a member because that means having money”, he added. Stating that some EU member state leaders wondered why Serbia wanted to be in the EU when “Brussels does not help them in any way”, he said he would wait to be a member in order to judge. “If we don't like it, we will resign the membership”, he added. Dacic stated that there was not a single party in the Serbian Parliament against Serbia's accession.
In Dacic's view, the outlook of EU accession is the “key factor” that has contributed to the success of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. He stated that, thanks to their outlook for European accession, unresolved issues in the region have been able to be resolved. “The outlook for Europe can produce progress in the cooperation”, he added.
Dacic wanted Chapter 32 of the accession negotiations (on financial control) to be opened under the Italian Presidency of the EU - in other words before the end of December. “This is important for the reform of the economic system and macro-financial stability”, he said. However, in Dacic's view, the opening of this chapter was linked to other chapters - with Germany wanting Chapters 23 (judicial apparatus and fundamental rights), 24 (freedom, security and justice) and 35 (linked to issues with Kosovo) to be opened beforehand.
While waiting, Dacic was in Brussels for a meeting on the screening of the Chapter 31 negotiations on foreign, security and defence policy. Serbia was criticised for not being in line with the EU as regards the sanctions on Russia. Questioned about the relations between his country and Russia, Dacic became irritated. He stated that Serbia was generally in line with the EU, and that it was aware of its obligations. “We support Ukraine's territorial integrity”, he said, stating that Belgrade could not join the European sanctions for economic reasons because Serbia trades with Russia and has companies there. He highlighted the primacy of national interests. Confronted with the challenge of the Ukrainian crisis, Dacic stated that Serbia would assume its presidency of the OSCE objectively in 2015. (CG)