Soltes, Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, conveyed the European Parliament’s support for Serbia’s efforts on the road to full EU membership. He believes that the first negotiation chapters will be opened at the beginning of next year.
Senic thanked the MEP for the visit, hoping that chapter 32 – financial control, would soon be opened, since the negotiating position has already been adopted. He also believes the negotiations will be opened in relation to technical readiness and adoption of appropriate documents.
The officials agreed that there are no additional conditions and that Serbia is only expected to fully implement the already assumed obligations form the Brussels Agreement.
They also spoke of the order in which the negotiation chapters are to be opened, noting that, in addition to legislative harmonisation with the EU acquis and building up administrative capacities, efforts should be invested into the maintenance and improvement of the rule of law and the judiciary system.
Soltes said that the EU accession is an inclusive process where civil society organisations play a significant role by helping provide constant and adequate information to the public on the negotiation process and the steps Serbia undertakes in its progress toward full EU membership.
Senic informed the MEP about the National Assembly’s role in the European integration process and confirmed the MPs; determination to actively contribute to a speedy opening of negotiations with the European Union. Senic said that the European Integration Committee is constantly in consultation with civil society organisations, especially via the National Convent on the European Union, as envisaged by the Committee’s Decision.
The officials are sure that good cooperation between the European Parliament and the National Assembly would be continued and strengthened with the beginning of the talks on Serbia’s EU membership. They went on to agree that future joint activities relating to energy resources are also important.