EU commends Serbia, but will not start accession negotiations

Brussels, 12 December 2014 (MIA) - In its draft conclusions about Serbia whose final publication is expected next Friday, the European Council will commend the country about its reforms, but will not decide to open its accession negotiations. MIA correspondent in Brussels reports that the conclusions have a vague reference about opening negotiations without setting a date when they would begin.

Draft conclusions agreed at the COREPER meeting on Thursday evening are affected by German reservations about the end of the screening process for Serbia and the opening of some of the 35 negotiating chapters. The Council positively notes that chapters 23 and 24, that relate to the judiciary and human rights will be opened at the beginning of the negotiations, and calls on Serbia to prepare detailed action plans along the lines of the recommendations that were agreed between Belgrade and Brussels.

The Council also commends Serbia for its public administration and judicial reforms, and the fight against corruption and organized crime in the past few years, as well as over its ambitious program for structural economic reforms that should promote growth. But, the Council asks Serbia to further intensify its reforms, especially in the realm of the judiciary.

Other issues where the country is failing to meet European standards are the rights of the Roma community, discrimination of other minorities, access to media, religious services and education in the languages of the smaller communities, and fight against discrimination on the lines of sexual orientation and gender. The European Council sees a worsening in the freedom of expression in Serbia, and asks more transparency in public finances, calling on Serbia to return to fiscal sustainability.

But, the main issue Serbia faces before the Council is expected to be the status of its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by most western countries. Serbia will be informed that the Council continues to closely follow its progress in normalizing relations with Kosovo, and its good will in implementation of political agreements. The Council wants to see Serbia and Kosovo continue on their separate European paths, and avoid laying road-blocks for each other.

In conclusion, Serbia is asked to align its foreign and security policy with the one of the European Union. The main issue here will be Serbia's relations with its long time ally Russia.