Von Beckerath: Reforms in Serbia Considerably Slowed Though Some Good Steps Have Been Made

(BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Andreas von Beckerat, head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, said on Nov. 5 that the pace of reforms in Serbia had slowed down considerably, though some good steps had been taken.

At the delivery of the EU Delegation's report on Serbia's progress to the National Convention organization, he said that the report stressed clear next steps for progress. He went on to say that both sides shared the goal of having Serbia in the EU, noting that the EU was already taking steps to prepare for new members.

Von Beckerath said the EU appreciated the attitude that it was a strategic goal for Serbia to join the EU, but that it was time for statements to be backed up by concrete action. He said that Serbia continued to say that joining the EU was its strategic goal and that the EU took such statements seriously, but that now was the time to take action.

National Convention on the EU coordinator Bojana Selakovic said the people who have been protesting for the last year were demanding "what Serbia has not done in the EU integration process so far." "Thousands of Serbian citizens are protesting today demanding what Serbia has not done in the EU integration process. Placing at the top corruption, institutional accountability, the separation of powers and an independent judiciary, but also a free press," Selakovic said, adding that the crisis in Serbia was growing deeper by the day.