The Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said that the deadlock in the Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, resulting from the imposition of tariffs by Pristina, should not prevent further efforts at European integration on Friday 29 March in Belgrade.
“I really regret the standstill on the dialogue. It’s really important but it’s not everything in terms of future approximation of the EU. It would be a mistake to stop everything because of the current standstill in the dialogue”, he warned at a press conference with Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić.
For her part, Ms Brnabić considered that these tariffs put “barriers to all other regional initiatives”. “We are looking for a way to sign the regional roaming agreement ... and I don't think it's fair to insist on some further regional agreements when Pristina disrespects some of the most basic ones, such as the Central European Free Trade Agreement. However, we will see what we can do and we will continue to discuss all other regional initiatives”, she added.
As usual, Ms Brnabić and Mr Hahn discussed the rule of law in the country. And, while in mid-March, demonstrators invaded the RTS public channel building, calling for media freedom, Ms Brnabić announced that the government's draft media strategy should be ready “by the end of April”.
The project has yet to be seen by journalists' associations and will then be sent to the European Commission for opinion.
“The strategy under preparation will provide a better framework for the media scene”, the Serbian Prime Minister told EUROPE. When asked about the objectivity of the public media, she considered that the government did not influence any media and that the press could criticise the Serbian authorities. “I believe that the public broadcaster should play and have a very important role, they have responsibility and a certain role”, Mr Hahn said.
In addition, during his visit to Serbia, the Commissioner took the opportunity to inaugurate the Golubac fortress, which was rebuilt with €7.5 million in European funds. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)