Presenting the Report on the current course of EU accession negotiations, Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic said that the explanatory screening dynamics remain unchanged in 2014 despite the May floods and the elections. Minister Joksimovic pointed out the excellent bilateral relations established within the European integration process, especially with Italy which had passed a Resolution in support of opening EU membership negotiations with Serbia, France which considers Serbia’s EU accession a priority and Vienna. She informed the Committee members on the prospects for the opening of chapters 32 and 35. The Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration stressed that all the members of the European Union recognise Serbia as the most serious accession candidate in the Western Balkans and truly appreciate the Serbian Government’s economic reforms, adding that they have set no new conditions for the launching of negotiations with Serbia.

Tanja Miscevic, Head of the Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, said that the explanatory and bilateral screening had been completed in 26 fields so far. She presented the Report on the current course of EU accession negotiations by chapter.

Following a short debate, the Committee members adopted the Report on the current course of EU accession negotiations.

The Committee members went on to select a delegation for the meeting of the chairpersons of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in Riga, 1 and 2 February 2015, and a delegation for the 52nd Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in Riga, 31 May – 2 June 2015.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Aleksandar Senic.