National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic thanked the European Council President for the support of Serbia’s efforts to be given a start date for the European Union talks, opining that this is a historic decision. He assured European Council President Herman Van Rompuy that the Serbian Government and Parliament are dedicated to the reform process, saying he expected that the European Union would assist and support the process. Stefanovic stressed that the Government and Parliament had fulfilled all the promises and assumed obligations and that Serbia would continue to follow the obligations it had assumed thus proving that the European Council and its President had been right to offer it support. The National Assembly Speaker noted that Serbia has a lot of work to do, but it is ready to take it on, emphasising its good regional cooperation with states already in the European Union, and states which are, like Serbia, progressing toward Europe, such as Montenegro. Speaking of the priorities in the reform process and achieving European standards, Stefanovic highlighted the struggle against corruption and for the rule of law which the Government and Parliament fully support, opining that investment and especially human rights cannot be promoted without zero tolerance for corruption. Stefanovic said that 28 June is a significant date for Serbia and this year the date marked a victory, and added that Serbia is dedicated to the reform process illustrating it by the direct adoption of judiciary and anti-corruption strategies.
The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy emphasised the role of the parliament in Euro-integration processes, adding that his visit attests to the commitment to continue in line with the European Council’s decision of last Friday. Rompuy went on to say that the date is fixed and that the talks would start in January at the latest. However, Rompuy continued, we will not wait for January because the process has already started and added that there would be no additional conditions. Rompuy claimed that once a historic process has started there is no point in arguing about a couple of weeks, opining it that the European Council’s decision is important for the entire region in which Serbia plays a significant role. The important reforms Serbia is to undertake on its way to the European Union, added Rompuy are important for the country itself. Speaking of the first chapters to be opened, chapters 23 and 24, Rompuy underlined their importance because opening and addressing them at the beginning of the talks would create a positive climate and dispel the possible doubts of some of the member states. Rompuy went on to stress his own enthusiasm shared by many of the member states when the decision on the start date for talks with Serbia was being made, adding that the decision itself is a signal of hope and expectation for both the state top and all the citizens. However, continued Rompuy, the perfect balance needs to be struck between these great expectations and reality, adding that public and parliamentary support is considerable, which should be maintained in the course of the talks themselves in the upcoming years.
Speaker Stefanovic again thanked Rompuy for his support and encouragement, opining that Serbia has now boarded a train and it is up to Serbia how quickly it would travel.