The National Assembly Speaker thanked the head of Lithuanian diplomacy for the ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Serbia and the European Union by the country’s national parliament, which greatly contributes toward the decision to commence talks. Stefanovic hopes that the Lithuanian six-month presidency of the European Union, which began in June, would be successful and that the talks on Serbia’s European Union accession would start in said period.
Speaker Stefanovic went on to inform Linkevicius on the Government and National Assembly’s priorities as regards issues most important for Serbia, saying that the anti-corruption efforts were especially appreciated by both the European Commission and recently, by the Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule and added that chapters 23 and 24, relating to the rule of law, human rights and judiciary reform, are expected to be opened first once the talks begin. These issues are very important for Serbia not only as part of the talks with the European Union, continued Stefanovic, but because they should improve the lives of the Serbian citizens, adding that reaching European Union standards provides the opportunity to achieve the goals set a year ago.
The National Assembly Speaker also opined that the economic cooperation between Serbia and Lithuania shows potential for further and faster development, as does their bilateral cooperation, including political and parliamentary cooperation. Lithuania’s experience from the period when it was a candidate itself and later, as a European Union member, would be of considerable help to Serbia in its progress to the European Union, said Stefanovic.
Our goal is to join the European Union by 2020, noted the National Assembly Speaker listing all the areas currently undergoing reform and harmonisation with European laws and regulations, opining that there is a lot to be done. Stefanovic informed Linkevicius about the improvement in regional cooperation as one of Serbia’s foreign policy priorities, mentioning that Serbia’s role in the region in the last year was met with general approval as constructive and significant.
As regards the Brussels Agreement, Stefanovic informed the head of Lithuanian diplomacy about the current developments in the process, adding that the Serbian does not limit itself to negotiations, but is dedicated to fulfilling what was agreed and that the results of its efforts can be checked even though it is a difficult process involving tough decisions. The National Assembly Speaker mentioned the agreement on the upcoming elections in Kosovo, planned for the beginning of November, noting that the Government and the state of Serbia urge the Serbs in Kosovo to take part in the elections first and foremost because all who were born there have the right to vote.
The head of Lithuanian diplomacy, Linkevicius commended the serious preparations for the talks with the European Union saying that this is a specific and very intense process and adding that the best was to cooperate in the process by establishing direct contact with the relevant committees of member states. Linkevicius said that he would be pleased to convey the interest in closer bilateral cooperation between the two parliaments and noted that Lithuania had “reset” its relations with Serbia and very quickly ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, setting aside the unresolved bilateral issues, and taking the view that the Western Balkans and Serbia are far more important than any unresolved issues.
Linkevicius hopes that Serbia would begin the talks as soon as possible i.e. during Lithuania’s presidency of the European Union which ends in December, saying he was impressed by Serbia’s level of preparation to begin talks on all chapters.