Printer Friendly Version Accession talks with Serbia to start by January 2014 @ 28 June 2013 10:08 PM

Belgrade/Brussels/Washington, 28 June 2013 – President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy stated today that EU leaders decided that the accession talks with Serbia should start by January 2014, which is a historic moment for the Balkans and Europe as a whole. Van Rompuy underlined at a press conference that there are no new conditions for the start of negotiations and announced that in January 2014 an inter-governmental conference with Serbia will be held, by which negotiations on EU membership will be opened formally. He also announced his visit to Belgrade on 1 July during which he will highlight the importance of the progress made in the process of European integration. President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the decision to set the date for the start of negotiations with Serbia, describing it as a historic event. Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic said that the European Council's decision to open accession talks with Serbia is final and historic and that there are no new conditions set. The meeting of the governments of all 28 EU member states will be held in January at the latest, at Germany's request, the Prime Minister announced. Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ivan Mrkic said that European Council’s decision has confirmed that Serbia conducts responsible policy. He reiterated that Serbia is finally entering an irreversible process of becoming member of the European family. Minister Mrkic emphasized that Serbian Government has ensured present and future for Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, while at the same time it has opened a door for friendship with Albanians and all other nations that share this region where we all live.