Serbia should be committed to battle against corruption and organized crime and to the continuation of reforms in the judiciary, which are the most important things on its EU course, said EP rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin after talks with Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic. The battle should be conducted through investigations and evidence and not through media writings, emphasized Kacin. More from Jelica Tapušković.
Kacin assessed that in the EU integrations process it was important that the Parliament should comply with its regular procedures and not make any rash moves which would require remedy at a later date. He said it was a good thing that the opposition is present in the Parliament and heads the EU Integrations Committee as such a thing creates a wider political consensus and a similar one in EU integrations.
On the other hand, I would like to point out that in its efforts to get a date for the beginning of talks Serbia will be heading in the direction already taken by Montenegro and the first chapters to be opened will be the most difficult and complex ones – chapters 23 and 24 – and they will be the last to be closed, in order that enough time for the strengthening of Serbian institutions be provided, in order that they become fully indepenendent and in order that the rule of law be fully established for Serbian citizens and foreign investors, said Kacin. We expect progress regarding these chapters and evidence that Serbia is fully committed to the strengthening of those institutions in order that it be able to start negotiations and open those difficult and complex chapters, said Kacin.
Speaking of participation of Kosovo representatives in international gatherings, Kacin said Serbia’s self-isolation was not good for anybody as it is important that Serbia’s word as well be heard at such gatherings. One of the criteria for the EU accession talks date will be the implementation of agreements reached between Belgrade and Pristina and Belgrade’s readiness to continue dialogue at the highest political level.
Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic said one of the topics of talks with Kacin was the strengthening of the Parliament’s supervisory role over the government’s activities. What we wish to emphasize is that the Serbian Parliament would by no means be an extended arm of the government, but a serious controller of all the processes conducted by the executive authorities, all the MPs being given the same chance, whether they belong to the ruling majority or the opposition, stressed Stefanovic. He added that the Parliament would do everything in order that the enacted laws comply with EU regulations, which will draw Serbia closer to the date for the commencement of the negotiations and the ultimate goal – for Serbia to become an EU member-state.