Starovic: Decision on opening Cluster 3 is a matter of the credibility of the EU enlargement process

Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic said today that the decision to open Cluster 3 in Serbia's EU accession negotiations is a matter of the credibility of the European Union's enlargement process.

Starovic pointed out that it is important that Serbia has received a positive recommendation from the European Commission for the long-awaited opening of Cluster 3 in its EU accession negotiations, noting that this is the first time such a recommendation has been issued outside the regular annual reporting cycle. Previous recommendations to open Cluster 3 were included in the Commission's annual progress reports at the end of the year.

"Now the recommendation comes ahead of the July meetings of the EU institutions. It does not automatically mean the approval of the European Council, that is, of all member states, but it contributes to the positive momentum that has been evident over the past several months," Starovic told RTS.

Explaining that Coreper I, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states at the deputy ambassador level, is meeting today, followed by Coreper II on Friday at the ambassadorial level, and the EU General Affairs Council on Monday, which brings together ministers responsible for European affairs, Starovic said these are three opportunities over the coming days to consider the Commission's renewed recommendation to open Cluster 3.

"I cannot speak on behalf of the member states or prejudge their decision, but it is evident that the circle of support for Serbia is expanding and that we now have the backing of additional EU member states that were skeptical or opposed in December when the opening of Cluster 3 was under consideration," Starovic said, adding that he could not specify which countries they were, but that intensive talks with them are taking place on a daily basis.

The minister nevertheless stressed that it is necessary to remain realistic and understand one important fact - it is often convenient for major countries to hide behind the absence of consensus, whereas whenever there is sufficient political will to make a decision, any blockage can be overcome.

"It all comes down to whether there is genuine political will. When it comes to Cluster 3 and Serbia, this is a question of the credibility of the enlargement process itself. It is important not only for us, but also for the EU," Starovic stressed.

He pointed out that Serbia, despite facing rigorous criteria, has responded with a strong wave of reforms, and that if there is no progress in the accession process under such circumstances, it would undermine the EU's credibility.

At the same time, he warned that Cluster 3 is only one of a hundred steps toward EU membership.

"Some candidate countries in the region that have opened all negotiating clusters were not required to implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission immediately, as that was left until the end of the process. The credibility of the enlargement process is at stake," Starovic said.