Fuele: Important to create conditions for ZSO formation

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated in Kosovska Mitrovica on Tuesday that it is important to create conditions for establishing the community of Serb municipalities (ZSO), adding that the municipalities in north Kosovo-Metohija have an important role in the implementation of the Brussels agreement.

Fuele agreed with mayors of the Serb-dominated municipalities in north Kosovo-Metohija in Tuesday's talks that it is important to complete the drafting of the municipal statutes and create conditions for establishing of the ZSO.

We managed to reduce the number of open unresolved issues, and we will think, consider and inform our colleagues, of course EU High Representative Catherine Ashton included, about these open issues as well and come up with some suggestions how to solve them, Fuele said.

The Serb municipalities have a very important role in the implementation of the Brussels agreement reached in April last year, Fuele said, adding that he will make an extra effort to help Serb municipalities do their job.

The crucial indicator for me will not be a certain bureaucratic list of assignments, but rather the fact that people in this region live more safely and have better lives enjoying the benefits of the fact that Serbia and Kosovo are moving towards the EU, Fuele said.
The Commissioner underlined that the meeting discussed a EUR 38.5 million package for support to projects in north Kosovo-Metohija, adding that an agreement has been reached to classify projects as short-term, medium-term and long-term.

We will make an effort for the short-term projects to yield benefits for people as soon as possible, and as for other groups of projects we will set deadlines and time...