Serbia will begin a formal dialogue with the European Commission (EC) regarding the recently adopted set of judicial laws, Serbian Head of Mission to the European Union Danijel Apostolović said on Friday, stressing that this step represents an obligation for Serbia as an EU candidate country.
Speaking to reporters, Apostolović explained that the dialogue concerns a package of judicial legislation recently adopted at the proposal of MP Uglješa Mrdić, which has drawn criticism both domestically and from European institutions.
Readiness for Dialogue and Venice Commission Review
“This is certainly our obligation. We believe we will also request an opinion and legal analysis from the Venice Commission. We are ready and open for dialogue, and that is the message we have conveyed to Brussels,” Apostolović said.
He made the remarks after chairing the first meeting of Serbia’s Accession Operational Team, established to coordinate reforms related to EU integration.
Apostolović expressed confidence that a compromise solution could be reached, despite the fact that the adopted laws have been criticised by the European Commission, with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos describing them as a step backwards on Serbia’s path toward EU membership.
Rule of Law Remains a Key Priority
Apostolović emphasized that interim benchmarks in the field of the rule of law remain one of Serbia’s key obligations.
“We have concrete commitments, including laws, action plans, and strategies that the Ministry of Justice must adopt. A large number of laws are currently in public consultation or under review by the European Commission,” he said.
He underlined that fulfilling these benchmarks as soon as possible is crucial, particularly in the context of potential discussions about accelerated EU accession.
“If accelerated membership is discussed, the minimum requirement would be meeting the interim benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24,” Apostolović added, referring to chapters covering judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom, and security.
Focus on Improving EU Progress Report
One of the primary objectives of the Accession Operational Team, Apostolović said, is the implementation of recommendations from the European Commission’s annual progress report.
“Our goal is that this year’s European Commission report, expected in October, will be significantly better, with notably improved assessments compared to last year. We carefully review every recommendation and define precisely what the Commission expects from us,” Apostolović concluded.
