Varhelyi: New Enlargement Methodology May Accelerate Negotiations, but Serbia Has Much More to Do

Oliver Varhelyi (Photo: European Parliament / Vincent VAN DOORNICK)

The new EU enlargement methodology may bring in new dynamics and significantly speed up Serbia’s EU integration process, but both sides have to stay true to their promises and fulfill their obligations, the participants of the Serbia on a Wobbly Road to EU Membership webinar have agreed in the evening on March 31.  

During the online conference organized by the Dutch Clingendael Institute and the Serbian Embassy in the Netherlands, EU Neighborhood and Enlagement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi stated that the new methodology rests on four main principles – credibility, stronger political steering, dynamism, and predictability.

Varhelyi also said that Serbia has implemented some “solid reforms” on its EU path, adding that the government in Belgrade has displayed strong commitment to the process and that the momentum has to be used.

He highlighted a few important “developments,” such as the launching of the inter-party dialogue within the Serbian parliament, changes to the Constitution in the area of judiciary, and the media strategy along with the working group for its implementation. When it comes to the economy, the commissioner added, Serbia has also made progress “with a number of important structural reforms” which resulted in an economic resiliency the country has displayed during the pandemic.

Still, he continued, the business environment has to be improved, the administration made more efficient, the transparency of public investments and the implementation of legislation increased, as well as the anti-corruption efforts and the rule of law. The EU’s priority, he said, “is to work with Serbia to help it translate these steps into tangible progress on the ground.”