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by Mijat Kontić
DIPLOMATIC INTERVIEW
© Stefan Momirov
Being an EU Citizen Means More, Not Less
We need to talk about the EU beyond the misleading titles that we read in tabloid press PLAMENA HALACHEVA Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Serbia
T
he EU-Serbia relations have always been a polarizing topic between Serbia and its citizens. This extends to Serbia’s political scene as well, a nation-wide consensus on the right direction of Serbia’s foreign policies is yet to be fully achieved. What has the EU delegation in plan for the upcoming periods, are Serbia’s elections up to European standards and are the concerns of joining the EU legitimate or not?
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On this and many other pressing topics we talked with Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Serbia. How was 2023 for the EU delegation and its cooperation with Serbia? Have you managed to achieve all the objectives that
were set for this year? Which ones were the most important for you and the delegation? 2023 was a challenging year for the EU Delegation and EU-Serbia relations, marked by continuous work on the accession negotiations and reforms, the EU-led Belgrade Pristina Dialogue and even
THE EU EXPECTS SERBIA TO IMPROVE, AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY, ITS ALIGNMENT WITH EU CFSP, AND AVOID ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS THAT GO AGAINST EU FOREIGN POLICY POSITIONS
stronger focus on alignment with EU foreign policy, against the background of a difficult geopolitical context. The two tragic mass shootings in early May left us all heartbroken and led to a shift in the reform priorities. The EU Delegation continued to support Serbia’s reform efforts, notably when it comes to the fundamentals. Some important steps were taken towards strengthening the independence and accountability of the judiciary to ensure the practical effect of the 2022 constitutional amendments, www.diplomacyandcommerce.rs
