Chapter opening depends on Brussels agreement

BELGRADE - Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said Monday that opening the first chapter in Serbia's EU accession talks depends on the progress with the implementation of the Brussels agreement, adding that the European Commission recommends Chapter 32, on financial control, to be among the first opened.

At a press conference held to present the results of a public opinion survey on European integration, Davenport said that the German Bundestag made clear its position on opening the first chapters of the acquis, insisting that they should include chapters 23 and 24 (on judiciary, fundamental rights, fight against corruption) and 35 (on Kosovo).

The Serbian ministries of the interior and justice are working closely with the Delegation on action plans for chapters 23 and 24, said Davenport, adding that, according to their estimate, the plans will be ready by the end of the year.

Head of the EU Delegation could not specify when the first chapter in the accession talks will be opened.

It is now up to the member states to decide which chapters will be discussed first, he said.

Some progress was made in the Belgrade-Pristina relations but we cannot speak about a full implementation. I think that there is political will in Belgrade, but that the situation in Pristina did not allow the political dialogue to resume at the highest level, said Davenport, in reply to the question if the status of Kosovo, constitutional change in BiH and support to sanctions on Russia are the conditions for opening the first chapter.

Asked if Brussels can act as the mediator in the dispute between the state and the lawyers in Serbia, who asked for the assistance of Brussels after months of strike,...