EC report presented to PM Vucevic: Messages understood, they are not new

We are satisfied with some things, and not with others, Vucevic told a joint press conference with the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret.

The prime minister noted that he fails to see how the laws declaring Kosovo an area under special social protection contradict the dialogue or agreements reached in Belgrade-Pristina talks.

We have a different problem, even after 11 years, the Brussels Agreement’s most important part for the Serb community, the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, has not been implemented, Vucevic said.

He noted that the European Commission’s report serves as Serbia’s roadmap for EU integration.

I can be satisfied with the fact that the EU recognizes Serbia’s progress in economics, fiscal discipline, and achieving investment credit rating, said Vucevic, adding that he is also satisfied with the progress Serbia made regarding the Green Agenda and climate change.

He said that discussions await Serbia on the most sensitive issues of alignment with EU foreign and security policy.

The prime minister explained he has not yet read the entire report and that he cannot comment on something he has not read.

He emphasized that the government has understood Brussels’ messages, which, he said, are not new. It also understands that more intensive alignment awaits as the country progresses toward the EU, but that it expects these to be parallel processes, he added.

Giaufret: Candidate country should align with EU decisions

Giaufret said the report reconfirmed the EC’s recommendation to open Cluster 3 with Serbia and called for increasing Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign and security policy as a priority to clarify its geostrategic orientation.

He emphasized that a candidate country needs to align with EU decisions, including declarations and restrictive measures, which Serbia has also been asked to do.

The EU ambassador said Serbia is a membership candidate negotiating with the EU, but that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has complicated the geopolitical situation, and that clear geostrategic orientation is therefore important.

He also pointed out the need to implement agreements from the dialogue with Pristina and that responsibility for violence in northern Kosovo is an important part of Brussels’ expectations.

Giaufret said the report is comprehensive, and provides a factual assessment of everything that needs to be done, adding that Serbia is expected to align its visa policy with that of the EU and emphasizing that progress depends on advancement in dialogue with Pristina.

Regarding media, he said that some reforms have not been fully implemented, such as the election of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council, and that the safety of journalists has not been ensured. Tangible improvements in the electoral framework and implementation of ODIHR recommendations are also needed, he added.

The EU ambassador said that there is currently real momentum for EU enlargement and noted that important integration steps were made last year, with Union enlargement remaining the first priority for the new Commission.