Heiko Maas: Judicial Reform, Rule of Law Important Areas for Serbia  

Heiko Maas, Ana Brnabic (BETAPHOTO/SERBIAN GOVERNMENT/SLOBODAN MILJEVIC/DS)

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas said at an April 23 meeting in Belgrade with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic that judicial reforms and the rule of law were important areas for Serbia on its path to the European Union (EU), and that Serbia could rely on Berlin's assistance and support in achieving these goals.

Minister Maas said that Germany supported the idea of EU expansion to the Western Balkans and expected reform processes in Serbia to result in the opening of new clusters in EU accession talks by the end of the year, the Serbian government has said.

The German foreign minister said that the future should be built on close bilateral ties, through continuous support and stronger economic integration, the cabinet quoted Maas as saying. The minister also said that his country would continue to be an exponent of stability and cooperation in the region and support the continuation of Belgrade-Pristina talks too.

Brnabic said that Serbia was firmly on the EU path, committed to reforms and their implementation, with a view to improving the lives of Serbian citizens, the release went on to say. The Serbian prime minister said that "important tasks and great challenges" lay ahead of her cabinet, above all the fight for health amidst the pandemic, but also reforms of the judiciary, media community and the rule of law.