KARLSRUHE – David McAllister, Member of European Parliament and standing rapporteur on Serbia sent statement of opening the negotiation chapters with Serbia.
“The opening of the first negotiation chapters in the EU-accession process marks a historic day for Serbia. The country is taking another important step on its path towards the European Union. It is a well-deserved recognition of the progress made over the past months” said McAllister.
For him the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Member States have always stressed that in order to move towards the opening of the first chapters, parallel and sustainable progress in the framework of the dialogue with Kosovo and rule of law issues is needed. On all three chapters – chapters 23, 24 and 35 – Serbia has made progress. On chapter 35, he welcomes Serbia’s commitment to engaging in the dialogue.
“The recent agreements on 25 August on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo, on energy, telecoms and on the bridge in Mitrovica are a positive development, for which Serbia is reaping the fruits today” stressed McAllister.
At the end McAllister underline that the opening of the first chapters is just an interim goal and that through the implementation of already reached agreements and a further alignment to the EU acquis, Serbia will be able to move even closer to the European Union.