Von Beckerath: Reform Tempo Decelerated, Credible Reforms Needed

Andreas von Beckerath (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

The chief of the EU Delegation in Serbia, Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath, said in Belgrade on Nov. 6 that the main conclusion of the European Commission’s (EC) annual report about Serbia’s progress was that the reform tempo had notably decelerated and that “credible reforms throughout the spectrum” were needed.

Speaking after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, during which he presented the EC’s annual report to the president, Von Beckerath stated that EU enlargement still “represents a policy based on merit and proof” and that “only true reforms” could lead candidates to the goal. “The future of Serbia lies in the EU and that should be said clearly, not just by words but by actions… Serbia continues to declare EU membership as a strategic goal and the European Union takes that seriously,” he stated.

Von Beckerath said that the EU expected Serbia to overcome the gridlock in the judiciary, rule of law and respect for human rights, and to urgently remedy the regression in freedom of speech and the erosion of academic liberties.

It was stated in the report that the “rhetoric of division” had deepened the rift in society and that Serbia had to revive the spirit of dialogue, Von Beckerath said, adding that one of the fields where urgent measures and additional progress were needed was freedom of expression.