Despite being “under the radar” of Brussels, Serbia will remain strongly committed to the integration process, as it has been to date, by nurturing communication and cooperation with the European Commission, its relations with EU Member States and, most of all, by continuing to work diligently on fulfilling the criteria for EU membership, says Tanja Miščević Ph.D. Head of the Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union
Acquiring membership status in the EU is the primary strategic goal of the Government of Serbia and it will remain so, says Tanja Miščević Ph.D., Head of the Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, underlining that the parliamentary elections and formation of a new government haven’t slowed down the integration process.
How could the fact that the Western Balkans region is under the radar for Brussels at the moment impact on Serbia’s EU accession process?
— The Western Balkans is unfortunately “under the radar” of Brussels, considering the Union’s economic and fiscal crisis, migrant crisis and the upcoming referendum in Britain. Problems such as the migrant crisis shouldn’t necessarily slow down the integration process. On contrary, our actions and behaviour during this crisis are esteemed by all, not only in the EU, as an example of good coping, pursuing European values and finding a common response to a very difficult question. There can be no development in successful EU foreign, security and defence policies if all Western Balkan countries are not part of the dialogue. The interest of the European Union in further enlargement, especially for the Western Balkans, should exist even when we are not “the first topic on the agenda”. Acquiring membership status in the EU is the primary strategic goal of the Government of Serbia and that will remain so. We will continue our intense reform agenda, while keeping the values of transparency and the inclusion of different stakeholders in the process.
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