European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that solving Kosovo issue was not the only condition for Serbia’s membership to the European Union, adding that the rule of law and good governance remained in the center of the negotiations, Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti daily reports today.
Still, Hahn said, Belgrade should finalize and permanently implement an agreement with Pristina that would contribute to the regional stability.
“It seems that many people, including politicians, have an impression that a solution concerning Kosovo is the only precondition on Serbia’s road to the EU. That’s not the case. The implementation of the rule of law, basic rights and good governance,” still were among the primary aspects, Hahn told the daily.
He added that no state could join the Union before solving open bilateral issues and for Serbia, it meant to “achieve and apply a legally binding agreement with Pristina.”
Hahn reiterated the EU stand that the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue should come up with “lasting agreement that is applicable, sustainable and realistic, in line with the international law and the European legal heritage.”
“Any agreement must be specific and custom tailored, not to create a precedent, but to contribute to the regional stability and its path to the EU. At the same time, the EU does not speculate about any possible final (version) of that legally binding agreement,” Hahn said.
He added that the process of the EU internal reforms and the work with the candidate countries “can and should go on at the same time.”
