BRUSSELS – The European Commission expects a soonest possible opening of Chapter 26 on education and culture in Serbia’s EU accession talks, says the EC’s spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic.Discussions are underway in the Council of the EU to ensure a consensus of all 28 member states, Kocijancic said in a statement to Tanjug.
The EC is now responding to questions from member states in close cooperation with Serbia to facilitate this discussion, Kocijancic said when asked about the EC’s role in attempts to clarify Croatia’s doubts over conditions for education of Serbia’s Croat minority.
Tanjug’s diplomatic sources in the EU said education of national minorities was more related to Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights than to Chapter 26.
Education, including of national minorities, is under the authority of a country’s national legislation, they said.