French-German EU proposal could speed Serbia's accession, says envoy

A new French-German initiative on EU enlargement could speed up Serbia's path to joining the bloc, according to Danijel Apostolović, head of Serbia's Mission to the European Union. Apostolović, who also leads the operational team for Serbia's EU accession process, believes the initiative, backed by two influential EU member states, is a positive development.

"I think it is good that this non-paper is supported by two of the most important and influential EU member states, France and Germany," Apostolović told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). He highlighted that a key innovation is the simplification of procedures for opening accession clusters, which would allow faster progress for candidates meeting the set conditions. The proposal also includes the gradual integration of candidate countries into specific EU policies, such as the single market, Schengen area, and energy sector, along with greater involvement in EU institutions.

While it is too early to assess when the proposals might be implemented, Apostolović expressed confidence that the document will eventually translate into concrete EU policies. He noted that recent meetings between Serbian and European officials, including the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, have injected new momentum into Serbia's European integration process. The primary focus remains on fulfilling political conditions, and the coming months could be crucial for unblocking the opening of Cluster 3.

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I think it is good that this non-paper is supported by two of the most important and influential EU member states, France and Germany.

Apostolović announced further discussions with European officials during an upcoming visit by Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, to Belgrade. The main topic will be meeting the political criteria for opening Cluster 3. This includes aligning judicial laws with the Venice Commission's recommendations, finalizing election legislation reforms according to ODIHR recommendations, electing a new Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) council, and further harmonization with the EU's common foreign and security policy.

Apostolović is optimistic that Cluster 3 could be back on the agenda soon. He also praised the work of the Operational Team for EU Accession, citing the numerous adopted and prepared laws as a result of its efforts. He emphasized strong political support for continued reforms, stating, "There is indeed political will. If there wasn't, this team wouldn't exist. If there wasn't, we wouldn't have initiated so many reforms in every area to this extent." He also recalled the cordial and friendly reception of the Serbian delegation by citizens of Montenegro during the Tivat summit, despite prior political tensions.

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There is indeed political will. If there wasn't, this team wouldn't exist. If there wasn't, we wouldn't have initiated so many reforms in every area to this extent.