EP AFET adopts resolutions on Serbia, Kosovo
The Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament (EP) voted overwhelmingly in support of the final versions of resolutions on Serbia and Kosovo on Thursday.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Thursday, February 07, 2013
The draft resolution on Serbia's progress presented by Rapporteur Jelko Kacin last December was adopted with 59 votes for, two against and two abstentions, after which the Committee adopted most of the nearly 200 proposed amendments.
The draft resolution strongly backs the process of Serbia's European integration and recommends that the European Council grants the date of EU accession talks to Serbia as soon as possible, provided that reforms and dialogue with Pristina continue.
The document also urges the country to promptly address the problem of false asylum seekers and to repeal the article in the Criminal Code relating to abuse of official position.
The draft resolution on Kosovo, which was also adopted by an overwhelming majority, supports the European Commission's stand that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement would not prejudice Kosovo's status.
At the same time, the draft resolution rules out the possibility of Kosovo's division and encourages the five EU members that have not recognized Kosovo's independence to do that.
The EP should adopt the resolutions at a plenary session in March.
Although they have certain political clout, EP's resolutions are not binding on the European Council or the European Commission.
The Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament (EP) adopted at Thursday's session a resolution that gives strong support to Serbia's EU integration process, and calls on the European Council to set a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks with Serbia as soon as possible provided that the reforms and the dialogue with Pristina continue.
After the session, Rapporteur Jelko Kacin stated that the MPs have recognized Serbia's progress to date and sent a message of encouragement to Belgrade to continue the dialogue with Pristina and make new steps towards normalization of relations and in the fight against systemic corruption and organized crime.
At the moment, it is crucial for Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks, Kacin said. The draft resolution on Serbia's EU integration progress in 2012 was adopted with 61 votes for, two against and two abstentions.
The draft resolution strongly backs the process of Serbia's European integration and recommends that the European Council grants the date of EU accession talks to Serbia as soon as possible, provided that reforms and dialogue with Pristina continue.
The document also urges the country to promptly address the problem of false asylum seekers and to repeal the article in the Criminal Code relating to abuse of official position.
The draft resolution on Kosovo, which was also adopted by an overwhelming majority, supports the European Commission's stand that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement would not prejudice Kosovo's status.
At the same time, the draft resolution rules out the possibility of Kosovo's division and encourages the five EU members that have not recognized Kosovo's independence to do that.
The EP should adopt the resolutions at a plenary session in March.
Although they have certain political clout, EP's resolutions are not binding on the European Council or the European Commission.
The Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament (EP) adopted at Thursday's session a resolution that gives strong support to Serbia's EU integration process, and calls on the European Council to set a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks with Serbia as soon as possible provided that the reforms and the dialogue with Pristina continue.
After the session, Rapporteur Jelko Kacin stated that the MPs have recognized Serbia's progress to date and sent a message of encouragement to Belgrade to continue the dialogue with Pristina and make new steps towards normalization of relations and in the fight against systemic corruption and organized crime.
At the moment, it is crucial for Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks, Kacin said. The draft resolution on Serbia's EU integration progress in 2012 was adopted with 61 votes for, two against and two abstentions.
