At the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Wednesday 9 November, Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn called on Serbia to pursue progress, pointing out that progress in the accession talks for joining the European Union depends in part on respect for the rule of law and normalisation of relations with Kosovo.
On the latter point, the 2016 monitoring report notes that there has not been much progress, due to the election process in Serbia and Kosovo’s domestic situation, and that continued efforts will be required to implement the agreements that have already been drawn up.
The European Commission warns that adequate human and financial resources and robust strategic frameworks will be essential for keeping up the pace of reforms. Moreover, while noting progress, the Commission wants Belgrade to implement its objectives of reforming, professionalising and de-politicising the civil service and to take other measures to combat political influence in the judicial system. Serbia should take account of international recommendations about elections, particularly ensuring transparency for the financing of campaigns and the process of registering to vote.
On the question of human rights, the European Commission recommends coherent country-wide implementation of the legal and instructional framework for respecting fundamental rights, including on the question of protecting minorities.
The Commission says no significant results have yet emerged from efforts to tackle corruption and a credible balance sheet needs to be drawn up on tackling organised crime. Its says Serbia should pursue its efforts to reduce the numbers of Serbs seeking asylum for no reason in the EU.
The commissioner welcomed the important role played by Belgrade in managing the refugee crisis and the recent economic reforms that it says are producing results and should continue.
Since the monitoring report of November 2015 (see EUROPE 11428), Serbia has opened four accession negotiation chapters. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)