EP Rapporteur Picula insists on Serbia meeting EU accession criteria

A press release quoted him as saying that one of the challenges Serbia faces is the willingness to stick to EU policies on Russia.

Picula is a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. He chaired the Working Group for the Western Balkans and was co-rapporteur on IPA III and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Hina news agency said and added that he has headed EP delegations on relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and served as Rapporteur for Montenegro in the past 11 years.

“I have developed a sort of resistance to unjust criticism and to ideologically tainted criticism,” his press release said commenting claims of bias in Serbian pro-regime media.

"My job is primarily to hold talks in a certain country with representatives of that country's institutions which are supposed to conduct the largest share of the tasks, as it is the government that is most responsible for a state of affairs in a country. I will convey our expectations, and I will analyse the progress in meeting the target,” he said adding that the process will be complex regarding Serbia.

One of the main challenges for Serbia will be the adjustment to the EU acquis and its readiness to embrace EU values and to follow the EU policies concerning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he said.

According to Picula, recognition of Kosovo will show that Serbia is changing its attitude towards political processes which are important for that country and its neighbours.

He added that Serbia has to implement specific policies which are not limited to just a few important elements.