Parliament passes conclusions on EC report on Serbia

BELGRADE - The EU remains Serbia's most significant strategic political and economic partner, the Serbian parliament said in conclusions on the European Commission's report on Serbia for 2025.

After a vote on the conclusions, Speaker Ana Brnabic said she was surprised MPs of the pro-EU opposition had not voted on them.

"I do not know what Brussels will say to you about that," she told the MPs.

In the conclusions, the parliament said it supported the EC's position that further work and political commitment were needed to continue and deepen reforms, especially in rule of law.

It also said it strongly supported the government, which is in charge of conducting and coordinating Serbia's EU accession talks process, above all, in the interest of the citizens, as well as in the interest of strengthening institutions.

In one of the conclusions, the parliament said it took note with attention of an EC recommendation that accelerating the talks process required clearly articulated political will and enhancement of the public narrative on the EU.

The parliament confirmed it would continue to work intensively in the domain of its authority, through its regular activities and in collaboration with civil society as part of the EU Convent, towards reaching a broad political and social consensus on the importance and advantages of EU membership.

It added that it took note with special attention of all EC assessments and recommendations to Serbia for 2025 that were related to the legislature's work, and expressed readiness to work actively towards advancement of parliamentary practices in the coming period.

The parliament welcomed the EC's repeated assessment that Cluster 3 in the accession talks is technically ready for opening but that, regrettably, the EU member states have not decided in favour of opening it.