Miscevic: Serbia lives up to high EC expectations

BRUSSELS - Head of the Negotiating Team for negotiations with the EU Tanja Miscevic stated on Thursday that the European Commission (EC) thinks that Serbia has successfully responded to the challenges and that the preparations are being finalised for opening the first chapters in the accession talks.

We have been told that they had high expectations from us and that we managed to live up to each and every one of them, Miscevic told reporters after the conclusion of the screening for Chapter 22 on regional policy and coordination of structural instruments.

She explained that this is an important chapter and added that it is closely connected with almost all other chapters, from the judiciary to agriculture and the environment.

We do not have the money to fund the adjustment to European standards from our own budget, but we expect to get assistance from EU accession funds and then from structural funds as well, she said.

Miscevic released that technical preparations are almost completed for opening chapters 23 and 24 concerning rule of law and fundamental rights.

Everything is going along well and we will be ready for this very soon, she said.

Asked to comment on the initiative put forth by a Croatian MP in the European Parliament for the Serbia to sign a resolution and renounce the right to trial against indictees for war crimes committed outside its territory before chapters 23 and 24 open, Misevic said that this matter will not impact the pace of accession talks.

The European Parliament is an important institution but it cannot affect the pace of opening of chapters because this decision is up to the European Commission and the EU Council, Miscevic said.

Photo Tanjug, R. Prelic (archive photo...