EC holds back on date for start of accession talks with Serbia, recommends ‘improved’ relations with Kosovo
A regular progress report by the European Commission, released on October 10 2012, refrained from recommending a date for Belgrade to start European Union accession talks and called for “visible and sustained” improvement in relations between Serbia and Kosovo – upsetting Serbian prime minister Ivica Dacic.
“I am fairly upset with this statement, because it could close the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue, instead of helping (re)start it,” Belgrade-based news website B92 quoted Dacic as telling reporters after the EC report was approved and released by the Commission.
The European Commission concluded that Serbia continues on its way to sufficiently fulfilling the political criteria and the conditions of the Stabilisation and Association process.
“The momentum of reforms needs to be reinvigorated and visible and sustainable improvement in relations between Serbia and Kosovo is needed which should gradually result in the full normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo”.
In line with its recommendation in the Opinion, the Commission stands ready to confirm that accession negotiations should be opened with Serbia, provided that progress on one key priority is made, the EC said.
Political criteria
Serbia has made some progress in meeting the political criteria for membership to the EU. The stability and functioning of institutions was maintained in the aftermath of elections held at all levels.
Despite a corresponding slowdown of legislative activity, some progress was noted in the implementation of reforms in most areas.
“Serbia needs to pay particular attention to the rule of law and following the rulings of the Constitutional Court which overturned there-appointment procedure for judges and prosecutors, a stronger commitment to pursue the judicial reform is needed.”
Serbia needs to pay special attention to the protection of vulnerable groups, particularly the Roma, and to the independence of key institutions such as the Central Bank, the EC said.
Serbia needs to build up its efforts in the areas of fight against corruption and freedom of expression in the media.
Serbia has maintained its full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Serbia needs to continue its constructive engagement in regional cooperation and strengthening relations with neighbouring countries.
“A first set of results was achieved in the dialogue with Pristina, but the implementation of agreements reached has been uneven,” the EC said.
“Serbia’s interpretation of the agreement on regional co-operation and representation of Kosovo was eventually clarified and, subject to implementation, no longer hampers the inclusiveness of regional co-operation.”
Serbia’s new leadership has underlined its commitment to implement all agreements already reached in the dialogue with Pristina as well as to begin tackling the broader political issues. Fulfilment of this commitment is key to open up the next phase of Serbia’s EU integration, the EC said.
Economic criteria
There was no further progress towards establishing a functioning market economy. The consensus on the market economy fundamentals has been broadly preserved but needs to be reinvigorated. Trade integration with the EU remained high. Some steps have been taken in speeding up and facilitating market entry.
Serbia needs to make significant efforts in restructuring its economy so as to cope in the medium-term with the competitive pressures and market forces within the Union.
High budget deficits have constrained the effectiveness of the macroeconomic policy mix. Labour market conditions deteriorated sharply with rising unemployment. There is a need for urgent and decisive consolidation measures, backed by systemic reforms of the public sector, in order to restore public finance sustainability, the EC report said.
Delays in structural reforms are also constraining the scope for growth enhancing policy responses, the EC said.
“Legal predictability remains weak and unclear property rights continue to hamper economic activities. The informal sector remains an important challenge.”
EU Legislation
Some further progress was made in aligning legislation, policies and administrative capacity with EU standards. Good progress was made in the areas of company law, intellectual property rights, statistics and customs union.
Litlle progress has been achieved in other areas such as judiciary and fundamental rights, energy, climate change, information society and media, education and culture. No progress was achieved in economic and monetary policy. Sustained efforts are needed to strengthen administrative capacity for the implementation and enforcement of legislation, the EC report said.
(Photo of Serbian government building in Belgrade: Matija)
