Germany to back chapter opening "when conditions are met"

Germany to back chapter opening "when conditions are met"

BERLIN -- The German government welcomed the progress Serbia made, country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement given to Tanjug over the weekend.

It noted at the same time that Berlin "will back the opening of negotiating chapters as soon as the conditions set by the EU are fulfilled."

"As soon as the conditions required by the EU are met, Germany will back the opening of negotiating chapters 23, 24 and 35 (on judiciary, justice and Kosovo)," a spokesman of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Tanjug on Saturday when asked about Germany's requests and whether Berlin will give a green light for opening of the first negotiating chapter in December.

He underscored that the German government shares the stand of the European Commission's latest report on progress and welcomes Serbia's progress.

From the standpoint of the Berlin government, priorities are now embodied in Serbia's economy, finance and administration.

"Germany and the EU believe that progress in the areas of legal state and normalization of ties with Kosovo bear essential importance for success of the overall process of Serbia's accession," Tanjug said it learned from the German Foreign Ministry.