Kos to Macut: No progress without reforms

“Work with us on reforms to make EU membership possible, work with us to create an independent judiciary capable of combating corruption, set up laws and institutions needed for free media, work with us to establish an election framework that will allow the will of the people of Serbia to be heard. Without that Serbia can’t make any progress,” Kos said after her meeting with Prime Minister Djuro Macut. She added that all those things are very close to what the protesters on the streets are demanding.

The commissioner said that she shares Macut’s view on ways to resolve problems, that all parts of society have to be involved because a true transformation comes from inside.

Kos said she is scheduled to meet with student protesters and the others who want to go back to class as well as opposition officials.

She said that neighbors are very important to the European Union not just as partners but as Union members. We now have a once in a generation opportunity to complete the unification of Europe, Kos said and added that Europe is changing quickly and is facing new security and trade challenges. European unity is the best solution, she said.

Kos expressed hope that Serbia will speed up reforms like other candidate countries have done. “We expect the Serbian government to do what is up to it and I am sure that I can count on you as a partner in this effort,” she told Macut.

The Serbian Prime Minister expressed hope that education will be in the focus of the commissioner’s visit and that she will help establish the dialogue that has been frozen for months.

Macut said the country’s EU accession talks have not progressed too much over the past 3 years but added that Serbia is intensively implementing reforms in rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption.