MEP welcomes stronger links between EU and Serbia

Parliament’s rapporteur on Serbia has welcomed moves to establish closer ties between Brussels and Belgrade.

It follows the signing on Tuesday of a pact which, it is hoped, will nudge Serbia towards eventual membership of the EU despite disputes over Kosovo's independence and Belgrade's failure to catch war criminals.

Serbian deputy prime minister Bozidar Djelic and EU foreign ministers gathered in Luxembourg signed the agreement, which Europeans hope will boost the chances of pro-Europe forces over nationalists in elections there next month.

Pro-western groups in Serbia took to the streets of Serbian cities within moments, waving pro-European placards and honking car horns as the flags of the EU and Serbia fluttered from windows.

Despite the rejoicing, however, the EU ministers agreed the pact would not come into effect until Serbia cooperated fully with the war crimes court in The Hague.

Commenting on the move, Slovenian ALDE deputy Jelko Kacin, parliament’s rapporteur on Serbia, welcomed the EU's “flexible approach towards the challenges of stabilising the countries of the Western Balkans.”

He added, "I hope that the signature will be confirmed by the future government and parliament of Serbia.

“Signature fulfils the expectations of the vast majority of Serbian citizens, who look to the EU for stability, social security, and development, for their future.”

He added, “But I regret that some populist politicians are using this step forward as a means not only to divide Serbs amongst themselves, but also to divide Serbs from their neighbouring countries and from the EU".

He said the EU still needs “concrete evidence” that Serbia will fulfil its part of the commitment.

“There can be no impunity for war crimes. These are obligations on which Serbia itself agreed and which are very important for its outlook on the future as well as its perspective on the past."

"I hope that negotiations on the removal of the visa regime will proceed quickly, so that as many citizens as possible may become acquainted with the EU on the basis of their own experiences and opportunities for free movement to the EU without limitations".

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