European Movement: Authorities in Serbia Need to Turn to Brussels Completely

Jelica Minic (Beta/Media Center Belgrade)

The president of the European Movement in Serbia, Jelica Minic, said on Dec. 2 that in preliminary conclusions to be passed on Dec. 8 the Council of the European Union (EU) sent another clear message to the authorities in Belgrade that they had to highlight the role of the Union as Serbia's chief political and economic partner in their public addresses, and to do so actively and unambiguously.

Minic said in an interview with BETA that the EU Council expected the region to produce tangible results, demanding prompt, substantial reforms to address delays in supporting the rule of law, fundamental rights, democratic institutions, a public administration reform and economic criteria.

When asked what message the Council had sent to Belgrade specifically, Minic said that for Serbia to make progress in the EU accession process it had to improve the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, the improvements taking place along with the normalization of relations with Kosovo.

"Secondly, the Serbian government might be fairly vocal in highlighting accession to the EU as its strategic goal, but it is expected to be truly committed to promoting European values, and to actively and unambiguously underline the role of the Union as Serbia's chief political and economic partner," Minic said to BETA.