Serbia opened two new chapters in its accession talks with the European Union in the meeting in Luxembourg on Monday – 33 on financial and budget provisions and 13 on the fishery.
Serbia’s Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic who headed the delegation said those two chapters were significant.
“Especially chapter 33 which will enable us to participate in the common EU budget and to work to empower the administrative capacities to become a functional EU member,” Joksimovic told a joint news conference with the European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn.
#Serbia: Welcome opening of two further chapters – fisheries policy and financial &budgetary provisions at today’s intergovernmental conference in #Luxembourg. Looking forward to further progress on #RuleofLaw and priority areas. pic.twitter.com/jVcSC0Igm7
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) June 25, 2018
Hahn said that Serbia's further progress would depend on the reforms of the rule of law and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, and added that Serbia should adjust the constitutional amendments to the Venice Commission suggestions.
He also said that Serbia was facing challenges in the freedom of speech area and added that Joksimovic promised that progress would be made there as well.
She said that “every small step leads to the final goal and that’s why we see every chapter as an important one.”
Serbia has opened a total of 14 out of 35 chapters, including the last two and has temporarily closed two.
The news conference is available here:
Also on Monday, Montenegro opened chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Union. The coastal republic has so far opened 31 of a total 33 negotiating chapters and has temporarily closed three.
