Serbia

The European Parliament today voted in favour of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement, as well as adopting a report on Serbia's progress towards EU membership. The Greens have welcomed Serbia's progress but stressed the need to continue to pressure Serbia to arrest war criminals wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), as well as on its constructive engagement with the negotiations on Kosovo's future. After the vote, Green foreign policy co-spokesperson Franziska Brantner said:

"Today marks another important step for Serbia on the path towards its EU destiny. It is important that the EU continues to recognise the progress being made by Serbia. However, it is equally important that Serbia makes progress on core EU demands

"It is high time that the war criminals still at large are arrested and delivered to the ICTY, and Serbia must step up its efforts to this end. The Greens believe any further step in the accession process will only be possible if and when Serbia cooperates fully with the ICTY and we welcome that a majority of MEPs supported a Green amendment to this end."

Green foreign policy co-spokesperson and EP draftsperson (rapporteur) on Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek added:

"Serbia must also engage constructively in the dialogue with Kosovo; this means not reopening the issue of Kosovo's status. We welcome that MEPS have included this Green priority in the report adopted today.