Brussels, 10/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 November, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn officially announced the opening of the first two chapters of EU accession negotiations for Serbia.
“Next Monday, the European Union and Serbia will open the first two negotiation chapters - Chapter 13 on financial control and Chapter 35 that deals with the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina”, Hahn told the Serbian parliament in Belgrade. He added that the intergovernmental conference, at which these chapters will be opened, “will mark the beginning of the substance of our accession process and make the perspective of Serbia's joining the EU family not just an idea but a tangible and reachable objective”. “The real work is really going to begin”, Hahn said at a press conference with Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
“Hopefully we will be able to open other chapters in the first half of 2016 - the very important Chapters 23 [fundamental rights and judicial apparatus] and 24 [security, freedom and justice] which is also crucial for Serbia's gradual alignment with the EU”, he added.
While underlining “the intensive work to finalise the action plans on the rule of law, the key agreements with Kosovo and the important steps to be taken to improve the regional ties and strengthen relations with neighbouring countries” or the economic efforts, Hahn called for the continuation of the reforms. “What is now needed is a renewed commitment to move decisively forward with reforms, in particular in the areas of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, freedom of expression - which is non-negotiable from the EU perspective - public administration, anti-discrimination and the economy”, he said. Hahn also said it was “important” for there to be further progress in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, “which is key to moving forward through accession negotiations”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)