In regard to comments by the Bridge Party’s political secretary Nikola Grmoja about the alleged “link between the election of Marija Pejčinović Burić as the Council of Europe’s Secretary General and Serbia’s progress in its EU accession talks”, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs considers that such shameful and unfounded allegations display a complete lack of understanding of how the EU works and sadly show that the Bridge cannot come to terms with the minister’s election, the Croatian diplomacy’s greatest achievement when it comes to the election of Croatian representatives to international organizations.
Serbia opened only one chapter at an intergovernmental conference on 26 June – Chapter 9 (Financial Services).
Opening a chapter depends on technical readiness for negotiations in that area, while the overall dynamics of the accession process depends on progress in key chapters pertaining to the rule of law and fundamental rights – Chapters 23 and 24.
Croatia closely and continually monitors Serbia’s progress in Chapter 23, which contains a series of transitional measures that Serbia has to fulfil, including those of particular interest and importance to Croatia that relate to ensuring the rights of war victims and their access to justice without discrimination, cooperation in resolving the issue of missing persons, avoiding disputes regarding jurisdiction for war crimes trials, Serbia’s full cooperation with the MICT, as well as the full application of domestic and international obligations in the protection of minority rights
Croatia expects Serbia to meet all the measures and criteria, included those from Chapters 23 and 24, which are of special interest to us.
The accession process is based on clear and well-known criteria, particularly in the area of the rule of law. No country, including Serbia, can become a member without fulfilling those conditions.