BRUSSELS – European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that the goals of the victorious Student List regarding the restoration of the rule of law and democracy in Serbia are also what the European Union expects of Serbia in its EU accession process.
“Serbia has been a candidate for more than ten years. But what we have experienced is actually that, rather than advancing in the process, they were backsliding, especially in the areas that were so important for the Student List to win”, Kos said on Tuesday for TVP World.
She described the result of the Student List as “excellent” and said that “it was clear that the students were demanding what we are demanding from Serbia in the accession process, and this is the rule of law, this is democracy, this is free media and of course it is many other things like fighting corruption”.
“So, this victory of the Student List could be a new start for Serbia on the European path”, Kos said.
She recalled that, in the opinion of the European Union, Serbia is fullfilling all the criteria for opening Cluster 3, but because it was backsliding on Cluster 1: Fundamentals, the Member States said that it cannot move forward.
“Any preconditions to be able to go forward and get chapters open and closed is that they deliver on the fundamentals. And this is what I also hear. I was on the phone with the leader of the Student List, Ilija Srdanović, and he told me that two chapters from these Fundamentals clusters are also their priority”, Kos said.
Asked about the lack of commitment of the Student List to impose sanctions on Russia, Kos acknowledged that this will be a challenge.
“Probably, it will not be possible for a country which is aligning with us on the strategic interests, it will be very difficult for a country to advance. But, we have not started talking to the new government yet, we will see how we will be able to move forward in this field or not”, she said.
