Servische premier wil akkoord met Kosovo snel afhandelen met oog op toetredingsonderhandelingen (en)

Serbia's 19 April deal with Kosovo, and the roadmap agreed on 22 May to implement it, were hailed as a remarkable achievement by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in a debate with Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic on Wednesday. Putting the deal into effect swiftly is now crucial, they stressed, reiterating that the Council should set a date at its next meeting for starting EU accession talks with Belgrade, provided Serbia sticks to its reform course.

"The next step needed to get a starting date for accession negotiations is the implementation of our agreement with Pristina. There is no room for doubt about this", said Mr Dacic, adding that "The working groups will meet in the coming days".

No Republika Srpska in Kosovo

Mr Dacic nonetheless underlined that "Serbia has not recognised the independence of Kosovo but is aware of the realities on the ground" and assured MEPs that the agreement would not lead to the "creation of any Republika Srpska" in Kosovo.

Other issues raised in the debate included reform of the judiciary, fighting organised crime and corruption, protecting fundamental rights and freedoms, relations with Serbia's neighbours and Russia and recruitment to the Kosovo Serbian police forces.

In the chair: Elmar Brok (EPP, DE) followed by Fiorello Provera (EFD, IT)

Catch up with the debate at link to the right.