Fabrizi explains why no new chapters have been opened: "Serbia will progress by year's end"

Photo: Tanjug/Tara Radovanovic

Outgoing EU Ambassador Sem Fabrizi said that no new chapter in the accession negotiations with the EU has been opened with Serbia in a year and a half due to the Covid pandemic and the change in methodology, but added that he was convinced that Serbia would move forward by the end of the year.

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Fabrizi told RTS that he believes that new clusters will be opened, recalling that Belgrade received an incentive for that at the last intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg.

"At the conference in June, we see a positive message - reforms are starting again, Serbia is strengthening the dynamics of reforms and that new clusters should be opened by the end of the year. It is a possibility, it should be the focus. I am convinced that Serbia will move forward by the end of the year," said Fabrizi.

Speaking about the criticism of the part concerning reforms in the rule of law, judiciary, freedom of the media and the fight against organized crime and corruption, Fabrizi noted that these are fundamental, priority issues.

"They are the most difficult to achieve, so it takes time. The new enlargement methodology provides an opportunity to speed it up and make it a little easier, because it is easier to monitor progress through clusters," Fabrizi stressed and added that he is convinced that progress in the second half of the year will be more tangible and will be seen in

EU Commission's report.

Fabrizi reiterated that dialogue with Pristina is a key element for Serbia's accession to the Union, emphasizing that Brussels is doing everything to make it succeed.

"The last round of the dialogue was perhaps the most difficult of all the more difficult ones. Both sides must be dedicated to it. The dialogue is a key element for the stability of the region and Serbia's accession to the Union. There is great interest for the dialogue to succeed, and the EU is doing its best to make it happen," Fabrizi stressed.

Responding to criticism that conditions for joining the EU seem like a moving target, Fabrizi claims that conditions in Brussels are stable and do not change, and that at this moment there is enough clarity in Serbia's European path.

"It is known what this is about - dialogue with Pristina, rule of law, economic reforms, public procurement, subsidies, state aid are things that need to be worked on. Member countries have said at the intergovernmental conference that there are no new clusters to open yet, but that things are moving in a positive direction," explains Fabrizi.

He considers the inter-party dialogue on election conditions, which is mediated by members of the European Parliament, to be good for Fabrizi.

"I expect that concrete ideas will be presented at the next meeting in September in order to reach an agreement on some points," he said.

He also stressed that "little Schengen" is important, primarily because of free regional flow of goods and abolition of roaming fees.

"The process of joining the EU greatly facilitates the possibility for Brussels to deal with the entire area of the Western Balkans and for everything to be according to European standards," says Fabrizi.

(Telegraf.rs)