Atmosphere in the European Commission indicates on a dose of discomfort there because nothing important took place between Serbia and the EU ever since of January 2014, said paper’s source familiar with the Brussels ‘affairs. According to the source, similar feeling is shared by most of the member states, but ‘nothing is happening’ still. Thus, it still remains unknown whether the first chapter in accession negotiations with the EU will open in the first half of the year.
Agreement on judiciary was signed between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels on 10 February, after what the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated that the key chapter in implementation of the Brussels Agreement is closed. That event, along with the announced visit to Serbia on 19 February by David McAllister, the European Parliament Rapporteur on Serbia, who also stated that the last round of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina is of the key importance with regard to decision about the time when the first chapter will open, could sound encouraging for Serbia’s progress toward the EU.
However, decision on opening the chapter is always a political one. It is well known that German officials are insisting that chapter 35, which refers to Kosovo, should be the first one to open, and it is conditioned with the full implementation of the Brussels Agreement. If agreement on judiciary is set aside, what remains to be implemented is creation of the Community/Association of Serb municipalities and agreements on telecommunication and energy…whereas new round of talks between Belgrade and Pristina is due to take place in a month.
The same source, which preferred to remain anonymous, assessed that in coming months the EU will primarily deal with Ukraine and Greece, and false asylum seekers surge into the EU.
