EU requires Serbia to "gradually harmonize policies"

EU requires Serbia to "gradually harmonize policies"

BRUSSELS -- The EU Council of Ministers has asked Serbia to gradually harmonize its foreign and energy security policy with those of the EU.

The Council commended the progress of Serbia in judicial reform and combating corruption and organized crime, as well as economic and structural reforms, but demands additional efforts to strengthen the rule of law.

This was stated in the conclusions adopted after Tuesday's discussion about the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland, emphasizing a high level of readiness of Serbian authorities to open the EU membership negotiations chapter on the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

The conclusions, however, did not indicate when the first chapter may be opened.

It was also said that Serbia must, in accordance with the recommendations agreed on by the European Commission, develop an action plan for the implementation of the conditions for the opening of chapters 23 and 24.

"The Council of Ministers urges Serbia to gradually harmonize its own with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, as part of the Negotiating Framework (EU-Serbia)," states the final document of the meeting, although not specifically mentioning EU's sanctions against Russia.

Officials at the meeting told the Beta agency about the unanimous view of the EU ministers that Belgrade is "not required to immediately comply with the foreign policy positions of the EU, which refers to sanctions against Russia", but that this harmonization, even if the sanctions remain in force until then, should be "completely aligned to the EU policy by the moment Serbia finalizes negotiations and is on the threshold of the Union."

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