EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn welcomed last night opening of the new chapters in Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, and highlighted that Serbia in the future must focus on the rule of law and normalization of relations with Pristina, Serbian media reported.

He assessed the opening of chapters as an indicator of a Serbia’s serious commitment and its realistic and firm European perspective, Serbian media reported further.

When it comes to the rule of law and the normalization of relations with Pristina, Hahn noted there was some work this year, however, “challenges are still there”.

Serbia also needs to make progress when it comes to the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, media, rights of national minorities, the fight against corruption and organized crime, including money laundering.