PM "wants EU to say why chapters are not opened" (B92)
Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that the EU should say why no negotiating chapters in Serbia's membership negotiations have yet been opened.
Ahead of his meeting with visiting EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Vucic said they will discuss "what Serbia has done so far," and added he "noticed everything is a matter of the dialogue with Pristina."
The prime minister stressed that he and Hahn will discuss "the concrete reasons why chapters have not been opened," and added this was "certainly not because of the Brussels agreement":
"Which part of this agreement has Serbia not fulfilled? Tell us the problem is somewhere else - let them ask why I won't give over 100 percent (ownership) of (Lake) Gazivode. I won't. Let them say that is why chapters have not been opened."
"If taking 100 percent of Gazivode is the reason," he continued, then the EU "will have to find a new prime minister - I won't sign it."
Vucic also said that Belgrade had offered Pristina 50 percent of ownership over this lake, but that they refused, and that six out of the 15 points of the Brussels agreement remained to be implemented, reiterating these concerned the future community of Serb municipalities.
He also noted that this community is yet to be formed, and that he insisted on it being formed "from the beginning."
"We did what was the hardest for Serbia, and that is the plan on the judiciary, and we signed that," said he.
Asked "if he expected chapters to be opened sooner," Vucic said he did, and that he also expected Serbia "to be treated better" because it undertook "the most difficult economic measures in the regions and on the other hand was a pillar of political stability."
"I am not certain that Serbia has received the respect I think it deserves - but that does not change my position, because I believe the road to the EU is the only serious road and a strategic road for our country," said Vucic.