European Forum

Serbia takes important step in EU effort; SAA to be ratified

The decision of the EU Foreign Ministers to start the ratification process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia is a “big step and important moment for the country”, Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić said. The 27 EU Foreign Ministers took the decision on 14 June after the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Serge Brammertz, delivered his biannual report on Belgrade’s cooperation with the ICTY, saying: “Serbia has maintained its cooperation with the Tribunal, with a view to deliver positive results.” SAA must be ratified by all 27 EU member states in order to come into force, and represents the next major step in Serbia's path toward the EU.

Đelić was very pleased about the start of the ratification process and its effects: “parliaments of all EU member states will ratify the agreement and thus show the investors in their respective countries that Serbia is a secure place and that it is possible to do business with us, which will increase the number of investors and jobs in our country.” According to Đelić, with the ratification of the SAA Serbia has become an EU associate member and its goal to become a EU candidate country by mid 2011 would become a reality.

Reacting to the decision, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said: “This decision brings Serbia another step closer to the EU, putting our relation on a strong legally binding and institutional basis. I am looking forward to the Council making an equally important decision on requesting the Commission to prepare an opinion on Serbia’s membership application.” After the meeting, EU foreign ministers reiterated again that full cooperation with the ICTY remains an essential element of the SAA and encouraged Serbia to follow the recommendations of the tribunal's prosecutor.

The European Union signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA, with Serbia in 2008, but froze the deal immediately afterwards pending Serbia’s cooperation with the ICTY and the Netherlands’ insistence on the capture of wartime Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic, believed to be hiding in Serbia.

Source: B92 and BIRN