BELGRADE – It is important for Serbia to continue along the same path in 2016, European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur David McAllister said on Monday, adding that the EP would back Serbia in opening other chapters as well.
McAllister, who met with members of the parliamentary committee on EU integration, congratulated on the opening of Chapters 32 and 35, which he described as a success for the Serbian government and parliament.
Speaking about the draft resolution on Serbia’s progress in 2015, McAllister voiced expectation that the resolution would be passed in the same generally positive tone in an EP plenary session in February, the Serbian parliament said in a release.
McAllister especially commended Serbia’s conduct in the current migrant crisis, and the negotiations with Pristina, noting that the dialogue contributed to the opening of Chapter 35.
Joksimovic: McAllister’s support for further negotiations
BELGRADE – European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister came to Belgrade to give support to the effort the Serbian government and citizens are putting in the EU integration process and internal reforms, Minister without Portfolio responsible for EU integration Jadranka Joksimovic said on Monday.
In a statement to Tanjug, Joksimovic described McAllister, who arrived in Belgrade on Sunday evening on a two-day visit, as an objective rapporteur and influential MEP whose visit and message constituted a further incentive for the government along the EU path.
The EP rapporteur’s visit is very important as it sends the message about Serbia’s political stability, she underlined.
“Serbia has been recognized as the country that puts reforms in place for its own sake, which is a very good message for both Serbia and the EU,” Joksimovic said.
Pajtic: There is no progress without opening Chapters 23, 24
NOVI SAD – President of the provincial government in Vojvodina Bojan Pajtic said during a meeting he had with European Parliament Rapporteur on Serbia David McAllister in Novi Sad Monday that the opening of the first chapters in Serbia’s EU accession negotiations was a major step forward but no substantial progress could be made before opening Chapters 23 and 24.
Pajtic stressed that the opening of the first chapters had been welcomed by the citizens of Vojvodina, as a large number of them supported Serbia’s European path, the provincial government said in a release.
Pajtic said that he wanted every citizen in Serbia to feel free and safe, which is why it was important to lay emphasis on Chapters 23 and 24 in the European integration process, and welcomed McCallister’s recommendation to open the two chapters as soon as possible.