Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

On 16 December the Council of Ministers of the European Union requested Serbia to gradually harmonize its foreign policy and energy security policy with the EU, commended Serbia’s advances in the judicial reform and combat against corruption and organized crime, as well as its economic and structural reforms, but also requested additional efforts to strengthen the rule of law. European officials made it known that Serbia, in order to open the first chapter in membership negotiations with the EU, will need to implement the normalization agreements achieved thus far with Priština. The conclusions for Western Balkans countries emphasize support to Commission measures to place economic growth, employment, investments at the centre of reforms leading towards EU membership.

The council of foreign ministers of the EU, in its conclusion adopted after discussions on Western Balkans, Turkey and Island, emphasized the “high readiness” of Serbian authorities for opening the chapter on rule of law and basic freedoms under the EU membership negotiations. The conclusions, however, do not indicate whether the first chapter of the negotiations could soon be opened.

The Council of Ministers of the EU will submit its conclusions for adoption to Union leaders, meeting at the end of the week.

Source: www.euractiv.rs