Miscevic: Serbia Ready to Open Remaining Clusters, Progress in Talks Depends on EU Members

Tanja Miscevic, Brdo Castle, Oct. 24 2023 (BETAPHOTO/STA/Daniel Novakovic)

Serbian Minister of EU Integration Tanja Miscevic said on Nov. 11 that formal progress in the negotiating process in Serbia's bid to join the European Union depended on its member states, noting that Serbia was ready to open the remaining clusters.

Miscevic told the Nov. 11 issue of the Kurir daily that EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had confirmed that Serbia was ready to open the remaining clusters, and that a European Commission report on Serbia's progress had singled out the third cluster.

"The reason for this statement of his is the fact that, while there has been no formal advancement in the negotiations, we are working in areas where negotiations have yet to begin, with regular consultations with the European Commission," the minister said.

She went on to say that a mid-December summit of the heads of state or government of EU countries would adopt specific decisions on candidate states, and that opening the third cluster in Serbia's bid for EU integration should be discussed at this conference.

Asked how realistic announcements that Serbia could join the EU by 2030 were, Miscevic replied that Serbia should do everything needed to be ready to become a full EU member by that date, adding that there was a readiness within the EU to prepare for further enlargement.