EU Delegation Head: Assessment Still Ongoing If Serbia Is Meeting Conditions for Payments

Andreas von Beckerath (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Andreas von Beckerath, head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, said in Belgrade on April 24 that a decision to freeze funds due to failure to conduct reforms related to the EU integration process had not been made and that assessments were being made if Serbia was meeting the conditions and to what extent.

Von Beckerath said Serbia had received one advance payment, but that before the next request for payment is submitted Serbia's progress in meeting the so-called preconditions would need to be established.

"Those preconditions include the existence of efficient democratic institutions that abide by the rule of law and ensure free and fair elections. At this time we are assessing whether Serbia has met the conditions for the payment of the second and third tranches. These assessments are currently underway and a decision on freezing the funds has not been made. We are considering if the conditions have been met and to what extent. So this is a process that is still ongoing," he told the Glas Sumadije publication.

Von Beckerath stressed that the rule of law was an important segment of the assessment. "It is no secret that we were disappointed with the way in which Serbia adopted five judicial laws earlier this year. We underscored clearly that we considered that a step backward. We also sent a clear message that we expected the Serbian authorities to carry out the recommendations of the Venice Commission. The Serbian authorities have already recognized that. We expect the process of carrying out the recommendations of the Venice Commission to speed up," he added.