EU-Serbia: Election result proof of support for EU orientation
European Commission
Statement
Brussels, 17 March 2014
EU-Serbia: Election result proof of support for EU orientation
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle has made the following remarks on the recent elections in Serbia and their results:
“I would like to congratulate Serbia for holding this Sunday early general elections which according to the international electoral observers offered voters a genuine choice and were conducted on a sound legal basis. Election day procedures were conducted in an organised and transparent manner and fundamental freedoms were respected throughout the campaign.
The observers also highlighted the need for some further legal reform and emphasised in particular the need for increased media pluralism. I encourage the Serbian authorities to address these recommendations early in the next legislature.
I am glad to see that again in these elections, the Serbian people have given a very clear signal of support to the continued EU orientation of government policy. By giving it an absolute majority in parliament, they have entrusted the winning Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) with a great responsibility. We welcome the intention of the leader of SNS, Mr Aleksandar Vučić, to lead inclusive talks with the aim to form a new government swiftly. As Serbia is in the first year of its EU accession negotiations, it is indeed all the more important that parliament is constituted and a new government is formed in good time.
Serbia will be expected to tackle with renewed impetus the many reform challenges lying ahead, most particularly to pursue the work in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights and undertake structural economic reforms. It is also essential that Belgrade continues with its engagement in the dialogue with Pristina with the view to expedite the implementation of agreements reached so far and further build up normalisation of relations.”
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