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EC Report on Serbia: Accession Talks Depends on Normalization of Relations with Kosovo

EC Report on Serbia: Accession Talks Depends on Normalization of Relations with
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Serbia’s progress on the rule of law and the normalization of relations with Kosovo is essential and will continue to determine the overall pace of the accession negotiations with the European Union, estimated the European Commission in its new annual progress report on the Western Balkans and Turkey, published on Tuesday.

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In the recommendations from the report, it is stated that Serbia had, in the observed period, achieved very limited progress on the judiciary and fundamental rights (chapter 23) while moderate progress has been registered in the areas of justice, freedom, and security (chapter 24).

The EC stated that the progress on the rule of law is not as fast and effective as could be expected from a negotiating country and that Serbia needs to urgently accelerate and deepen reforms in particular on the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, media freedom, the domestic handling of war crimes and the fight against organized crime.

                It is stated that Serbia should also aim at meeting the interim benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24, including through a result-oriented implementation of the revised action plans for those two chapters.

It was estimated that the relations between Belgrade and Pristina “continue to be challenging”, but also that the continued dialogue under the EU auspices during July, was a very positive step.

In the report, it is added that Serbia had shown dedication and engagement in the renewed dialogue process but also that it should invest additional significant efforts and contribute to the establishment of a favorable surrounding so as to enable the signing of an all-encompassing legally binding agreement with Kosovo.

Such an agreement, according to EC, is “urgent and crucial so that Kosovo and Serbia can advance in their respective European paths”.

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