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SPEED OF ACCESSION IN SERBIA’S HANDS

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KEY MESSAGES

KEY MESSAGES

There is a danger of an imbalance between the overall pace of negotiations and the pace of rule of law reforms. Therefore, the basic equation is quite simple: the more progress on rule of law, the more chapter openings are possible - Thomas Schieb

The annual report of the European Commission, which has been announced for publication in October, should evaluate how far Serbia has progressed in the implementing of reforms linked to EU membership. At that time there will be discussion within the EU over whether some new chapters in the accession negotiation process could be opened,” say H.E. German Ambassador Thomas Schieb, speaking to CorD Magazine. Turning to the recent renewal of dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština, ambassador Schieb says that the essence is to ensure that “both sides reach a legally binding agreement that enables both Serbia and Kosovo to pursue their EU accession aspirations and fulfil their rights and obligations as EU members”. Asked whether that process also implies that Serbia must recognise Kosovo’s independence, Schieb says: “In my political imagination ... it would be hard to envisage such a solution without Serbia recognising Kosovo”.

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Your Excellency, Germany took on the presidency of the European Union during the very difficult period of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In your opinion, what will be the biggest challenges for Berlin until the end of 2020? - The Council Presidency of the European Union is always a very challenging responsibility. And it goes without saying that this is especially true now, given the COVID-19 Pandemic – a health crisis on a global scale with enormous economic and political repercussions. The logistical difficulties of a situation when physical meetings and travel have become part of the problem alone make it challenging to organise

ECONOMY The green transition and digital transformation will play a central role in modernising the economies of the Western Balkans INVESTMENTS Germany is Serbia’s biggest trading partner; German companies’ investments in Serbia are significant: around 450 companies in Serbia have created about 64,000 jobs to date EU EU is not only an economic union, but also a union of values. Democracy and rule of law are key elements of that union. Without sharing these values, no country can and will join the EU

a presidency. The German EU Council Presidency does sion negotiations with both Serbia and Montenegro. Another everything in its power to deal with this situation. focus is the issue of demographics and migration, which we

When addressing the economic and social consequences will discuss at a conference on Youth and Migration with the of COVID-19, it is important to do this in a smart, intelligent Western Balkan countries in Berlin at the end of October. way. The objective is to ensure a transition towards a sustainable economy, also taking account of the EU Commission’s The European Commission has announced a major economproposal for the so-called “Green Deal”. ic investment plan for the Western Balkans, as a separate

At the very beginning of our presidency, we reached an project. Will that plan be presented this autumn, as previagreement on the multi-annual financial framework for the ously announced? next seven years. This agreement provides for a total volume - That is a question for the Commission, of course, but I think of more than 1074 billion euros. An additional 750 billion I’m free to say that the Economic and Investment Plan will euros will support the recovery of the European economy be presented this autumn. To the best of my knowledge, by the end of 2023. preparatory work is quite advanced. After the very substan

Beyond COVID-19, there are other difficult issues on the tive COVID related EU solidarity package, this will be a furagenda, foremost concluding negotiather means to support the countries of tions with the UK on future trade relaBeyond COVID-19, there are the region, to spur long-term recovery, tions in order to avoid a hard BREXIT. And, lasty, maintaining the momentum regarding the enlargement process. other difficult issues on the agenda, foremost concluding boost economic growth focusing on a sustainable recovery and the idea of a European Green Deal as well. The green negotiations with the UK on transition and digital transformation You’ve stated that the Western Bal kan region remains high on the agen future trade relations in order will play a central role in modernising the economies of the Western Balkans. da of Germany’s presidency of the EU. to avoid a hard BREXIT. And, Investing in clean and digital technologies What specifically does that mean for the region? - First of all, it means that, in our relast but not least, maintaining the momentum regarding the and capacities – in combination with a circular economy – will help to create jobs and growth. sponse to COVID-19, we include the enlargement process Western Balkans. The virus knows no International financial institutions have borders. We have to deal with it together. That’s why I’m predicted economic recessions for most European countries very satisfied with the EU’s financial support of €3.3 billion this year, Germany included. How will this impact on ecothat’s been mobilised for Serbia and the Western Balkans nomic cooperation between Germany and Serbia? so far, and the fact that European response mechanisms - The interim projection 2020, which was published by the are also eligible for the countries of this region. The Union German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs at the beginning Civil Protection Mechanism, for example, has been activated of September, shows that the recession was not as severe and assistance through delivery of equipment allocated. as feared and the upswing is going faster than expected.

Besides COVID-19, we are glad about the new momentum Also, expectations among German companies for the coming of enlargement. This is most visible in the cases of North months seem to have brightened up again. Macedonia and Albania. We are preparing accession talks with The Government of Serbia invested significant funds these two countries by finalising the negotiating frameworks to help the economy. That was instrumental in tackling the within the Council right now. During our Presidency we aim crisis. Positive developments in Germany and Europe would to hold the first intergovernmental conference with North also be good news for Serbia, given the close economic Macedonia and, if conditions are met, also with Albania. We links. Germany is Serbia’s biggest trading partner; German want to promote the EU rapprochement of all the countries companies’ investments in Serbia are significant: around of the region, and pay a lot of attention to the ongoing acces450 companies in Serbia have created about 64,000 jobs

to date. Of course, some companies are able to cope with the current challenges better than others; some might have postponed the implementation of projects. However, we see no signs of German companies turning their back on Serbia, on the contrary.

Recently, Germany and Serbia established an Institutional Partnership which aims, among other things, at strengthening

more time to be implemented and to show results than rather technical adjustments in, for example, the field of agriculture. There is a danger of imbalance between the overall pace of negotiations and the pace of rule of law reforms. Therefore, the basic equation is quite simple: the more progress on the rule of law, the more chapter openings are possible.

In October we expect the Commission’s country report, which will assess Serbia’s performance over the last 12 months. Then the discussion about possible chapter openings will start within the Council. Of course, other issues apart from the rule of law also factor in, like normalisation with Kosovo and the foreign policy record generally. Unfortunately, as time passes, 2020 risks becoming a lost year for rule of law reforms. I hope that the new government and parliament will redouble their efforts to make up for the time lost due to COVID-19 and elections.

When congratulating the Serbian Progressive Party on its election victory this spring, you stated that you are convinced that the new Serbian government will increase the temthe respective supply chains, in accordance with Serbia’s industrial policy strategy and the EU Green Deal. Also, in The lack of progress on implementing the action plans po of reforms, mentioning as key areas the fight against corruption, freedom of the media and the rule of law. the framework of the German Developled to the EU’s decision not What do you base that optimism on, ment Cooperation, we are setting up an emergency grant scheme for the private to open a new accession given that EU member states have to date only criticised Serbia for insuffisector, in support of the digitalisation negotiation chapter this ciently visible progress on reforms in of small and medium-sized enterprises. Serbia didn’t open a single new negosummer. Without swift and tangible progress with regard these areas? - As I said in my answer to the previous question, Serbia will need to swiftly tiating chapter with the EU during the to the media situation, implement the reforms in the fields course of the Croatian presidency. Do you think that any will be opened durindependence of the judiciary you mention. The necessary reforms were agreed with the EU and are oping the German presidency? and the fight against erationalised in the action plans for - We hope so. However, this depends first and foremost on Serbia. Serbia detercorruption, I’m afraid it will be chapters 23 and 24. The lack of progress on implementmines the speed at which the accession difficult to argue for further ing the action plans led to the EU’s process advances. The more substantial the reforms Serbia is implementing, in chapter openings decision not to open a new accession negotiation chapter this summer. Withparticular regarding the rule of law, the higher the chance of out swift and tangible progress with regard to the media opening new chapters. situation, independence of the judiciary and the fight against

In order to open a chapter, two conditions need to be corruption, I’m afraid it will be difficult to argue for further fulfilled: it needs to be technically ready; and we need to chapter openings. However, I am indeed an optimist. With its see progress in the fulfilment of those conditions that are very strong mandate, the new government should be able to particularly important for EU accession, i.e. the rule of law, in swiftly and effectively implement the reforms in the aforeparticular justice reform, media freedom and the fight against mentioned areas. I can only encourage the new government, corruption. We know from experience that such reforms take once it is in place, to start delivering on its commitments.

At the recent Crocodile Literary Festival held in Belgrade, thew Palmer, at the outset of the last high-level meeting in you helped in the organising of a debate on European perBrussels underlines the interest in working together closely. spectives. Participants discussed the strengthening of the so-called ‘stabilocracy’ in the region, or governments that Speaking recently about the dialogue, Mr Lajčak said that are formally democratic but authoritarian in essence. Com‘the final agreement should be in accordance with Internamentators note as a particular problem that such regimes in tional Law, acceptable for all EU Member States and prothe region still have EU support. How would you comment on that? - I know this argument, and it does not convince me. We all agree that a lot remains to be done. We have just talked about standards with regard to, for example, media freedom. Serbia and other countries in the region have embarked on the road to EU accession. We commend this choice and are doing our utmost, as a reliable partner, to help the countries of the region advance on this reform path.

It is important to stress that the EU is not only an economic union, but also a union of values. Democracy and rule of law are key elements of that union. Without sharing these values, no country can and will join the EU.

from the U.S. State Department, Dep. Ass. Secretary MatThis summer saw the resumption of the Belgrade-Priština Dialogue, but a new With its very strong mandate, the new mote reconciliation’. Do you agree with a framework set in such a way? - Yes, we do. The goal of the normalisation problem seems to have arisen in the government should dialogue is a legally binding agreement form of a kind of rivalry between the EU and the U.S when it comes to this be able to swiftly and between Serbia and Kosovo that needs to be comprehensive, i.e. dealing with process. Miroslav Lajčak, the EU’s eneffectively implement the all relevant open questions, and needs voy for this dialogue, said that the EU was not consulted during preparations for the meeting of Belgrade and Priština reforms in the aforementioned areas. I can only encourage the to promote reconciliation and increase regional stability, indeed. It needs to unlock both Kosovo and Serbia’s eventual delegations in Washington. How would new government, once it is in EU membership and to contribute to you comment on that? - In general, activities that bring the place, to start delivering on regional stability. parties closer together are welcome. its commitments When it comes to this dialogue, the esWe are ready to work with our U.S. sential question is whether Germany colleagues to help grow the economies of Kosovo, Serbia, will be among those EU member states that will seek that and the wider region. As for the many unresolved political Serbia ultimately recognise Kosovo’s independence as a issues between the two countries, it is very positive that condition of EU accession? President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti both stressed - The essential question is that both sides reach a legally that they attach the highest priority to the EU-facilitated binding agreement that enables both Serbia and Kosovo to dialogue at their last meeting in Brussels. From our point pursue their EU accession aspirations and fulfil their rights of view, the talks facilitated by EU Special Representative and obligations as EU members. This is the condition set in Lajčak are progressing well. It is clear that reaching a susthe negotiation framework signed by Serbia and the EU. To tainable, comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and this end, it must have all the attributes mentioned before. Serbia will require close cooperation between the EU, as the How else should it work? In my political imagination, I may facilitator of the dialogue, and the international partners of add, it would be hard to envisage such a solution without Kosovo and Serbia. The presence of a high-ranking colleague Serbia recognising Kosovo.

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