Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković has delivered the answers to the European Commission’s Questionnaire to Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement; it is on the basis of these answers that Brussels will assess Serbia’s readiness to start the EU accession process.
Štefan Füle stated that the submittal of the answers was a historic day for Serbia and a key step a potential EU candidate takes in order to potentially become a candidate for the EU membership.
Füle also reminded that, apart from the work on the Questionnaire, the EU expected from Serbia to resolve other key issues, such as the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the rule of law and the judicial reform, the fight against organized crime and corruption and the implementation of the Action Plan of Serbian Government.
As it has already been announced, the European Commission will study the replies to the Questionnaire in the next four to six weeks and, if needed, it will subsequently send additional questions to Belgrade in order to clarify some of the answers.
The EC Questionnaire, which covers all the elements of future accession negotiations between Serbia and the EU, was handed over to Serbia on 24 November. The Questionnaire contains 2,483 questions, classified in six annexes and 33 chapters. Serbia prepared the replies to the Questionnaire in 45 days.
During the day, Cvetković also met the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, who reiterated the EU’s “commitment to the European integration perspective of Serbia”, but also reminded the Serbian Prime Minister that Serbia has to continue reforms and its constructive role in the region, and fully cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.
At the meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, Van Rompuy reiterated “the EU’s and his personal commitment to the European integration perspective of Serbia and that of the whole Western Balkans region”.
“I also used this occasion to encourage Serbia to continue important reforms and to continue its constructive role in the region. I also underlined the need for full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)”, concludes Van Rompuy in the statement from his Office following the meeting.
