EU enlargement policy "focuses on economy"

EU enlargement policy "focuses on economy"

BELGRADE -- Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU integration Jadranka Joskimović says Serbia is moving towards EU membership "so its people could have a better life."

According to her, "the concept of stabilizing the European economy matched the reforms in Serbia."

The EU is "the goal and framework that makes us work faster," Joskimovic told Tanjug, adding that that was precisely how she had understood recent statements by European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

"He advocates for the continuation of EU integration and the enlargement policy, but with clear criteria. The new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has just presented a concept of how to stabilize the European economy and create new jobs," she stated.

The criteria for new candidates will follow that concept and move towards economic criteria, which matches Serbia's reforms, she believes.

Hahn, an Austrian politician and former EU commissioner for regional policy, knows well the situation in the region, she pointed out.

Austria has been among the EU countries that speak in favor of the Western Balkan countries in recent years, and has also advocated further enlargement, especially good relations with Serbia, she noted.

On the other hand, there is an official EU enlargement policy that does not include new accessions in the next 5 years, she added.

"That does not contradict our plan at all. We are aware that we have to finish the work related to adopting new legislation by 2018, which is in line with our national plan for the adoption of EU acquis, and then, one or two years later,...