The European Parliament adopted 528 votes to 43, with 51 abstentions a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the 2013 progress report on Serbia.

Following the European Council decision of 28 June 2013 to open accession negotiations with Serbia, Parliament looked forward to the formal beginning of accession talks with Serbia which would take place at the first EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference (IGC) on 21 January 2014. This IGC was a historic step for Serbia’s European integration process and demonstrated the EU’s commitment to the enlargement process. Members called on the Serbian authorities to intensify EU-related reforms in the country in the follow-up to the conference, and encouraged Serbia to continue with the systemic and socio-economic reforms that would allow it to implement the obligations of future membership. They called for strong parliamentary oversight of the accession negotiation process.

Parliament urged the authorities to step up reform efforts in the areas of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, the public sector, civilian control of defence and security sectors, energy policy with regard, in particular, to energy saving and renewables, media freedom, protection of all minorities and vulnerable groups, as well as their fundamental rights, structural changes to the economy, social dialogue, improvement of the business environment and sustainable management of natural resources.

It welcomes the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement on 1 September 2013 and pointed out that it represented an important step for Serbia`s European integration process and provided a general framework for Serbia and the EU to boost cooperation regarding political criteria and approximation of the acquis. In addition, Members welcomed the adoption of the Strategy and the Action Plan on the reform of the judiciary 2013-2018 and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Action Plan for 2013-2018, reiterating that a strong and independent judiciary is key to Serbia’s capacity to meet EU membership criteria.

Members also welcomed the First Agreement on the Principles of Normalisation reached in the high-level dialogue between the Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo on 19 April 2013, which opened the way for further steps in the European integration process of Serbia and Kosovo. They encouraged the authorities to continue implementing all agreements reached so far in good faith and in a timely manner.

Parliament also welcomed the first-ever country-wide local elections in Kosovo on 3 November 2013 and in particular the visible voter turnout in Serbian-dominated municipalities to the south of the Ibar river as well as the overall orderly conduct of the local elections in Kosovo, as assessed in the preliminary statement of the EU-EOM as a crucial step towards the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities. However, it strongly condemned the violence and persistent intimidation which occurred in the north Mitrovica and Zvečan municipalities and urged the Serbian authorities to do their utmost to facilitate efforts to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. Members welcomed the stance taken by Serbian political leaders who had actively encouraged ethnic Serbians in Kosovo to participate in the elections, but noted at the same time that Belgrade should not stifle political pluralism in the Serbian community in Kosovo by campaigning on behalf of any particular party or electoral list. Parliament also asked the Serbian authorities in Belgrade, Mitrovica and south of the Ibar river to do more to increase community interaction between Kosovo Serbs and Albanians . It appreciated the constructive approach of the Serbian Government to relations with neighbouring countries , since enabled substantial progress to be made in achieving both regional cooperation and closer relations with the EU.

Parliament went on to call on Serbia to intensify efforts to resolve all outstanding issues with Croatia, in particular the issues of missing persons, border demarcation and the processing of war crimes, which would enable the removal of obstacles in the way of the lifting of mutual suits on genocide before the International Court of Justice.

Authorities are urged again to continue with their efforts to remove heritage of communist secret services which would contribute to democratisation of Serbia.

Parliament noted that corruption and organised crime were widespread in the region and represented an obstacle to Serbia’s democratic, social and economic development. A regional strategy and enhanced cooperation between all the countries in the region were essential to tackle these issues more effectively.

Parliament strongly reiterated its concerns about the decision of the Constitutional Court to repeal the guaranteed 22 competences of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina , leaving a worrying number of unresolved issues which need to be addressed.

It welcomed the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination Strategy and called for the proper implementation of Serbia’s Roma strategy and better protection of women’s rights and gender equality policies. Members strongly condemned the authorities’ decision to ban the planned September 2013 Belgrade Pride Parade as in the previous two years, and called for political support to be given to human rights for LGBTI persons at the highest political level.

Lastly, it reaffirmed its staunch support for visa liberalisation for the Western Balkan countries but at the same time was very concerned about the rising numbers of false asylum seekers and called on Member States to designate Serbia as a ‘country of safe origin’.