While acknowledging that Serbia has reaffirmed European integration as its strategic goal, it emphasises the need to demonstrate strong political will and consistency in implementing reforms.
Currently, 22 chapters have been opened out of 35, with two chapters temporarily closed. Some progress has been noted in fulfilling the conditions for opening Cluster 3 (Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth).
The Council will revisit the question of opening Cluster 3 based on significant further progress by Serbia, the text states.
Progress has been recorded in several areas, such as adopting a new anti-corruption strategy, although greater efforts are required to establish proven results in investigations, prosecutions, and convictions.
Serbia has, it is noted, achieved a good level of preparedness for developing a functional market economy. Progress has also been observed in cooperation with the EU through a strategic partnership in the field of sustainable raw materials.
The Council encourages Serbia to demonstrate greater political will by accelerating reforms and achieving concrete, tangible results in fundamental areas, particularly by focusing on meeting the interim benchmarks in the chapters on the rule of law, 23 and 24.
Limited progress has been recorded in the areas of judiciary and combating organised crime, with calls for effective investigations, prosecutions, final convictions, and the freezing and confiscation of assets acquired through criminal activities, including at a high level.
Regarding freedom of expression and media independence, the Council calls on Serbia to implement adopted media legislation, further align it with EU legal frameworks and standards, and actively work to prevent and combat all forms of disinformation and manipulation of information from abroad on all media channels.
The Council also encourages Serbia to ensure a more favourable environment and a stronger role for civil society organisations.
Serbia must also continue to pay particular attention to fully respecting fundamental rights, including protecting the most vulnerable groups.
The Council welcomes Serbia's commitment to numerous regional cooperation initiatives and encourages Serbia to further strengthen good neighbourly relations and contribute to stability and reconciliation with all regional partners.
Regional cooperation is highlighted as essential for prosecuting war crimes, resolving outstanding cases of missing persons, and similar issues.
"There must be no support for convicted war criminals or glorification or denial of their crimes," the EU General Affairs Council conclusions state.
Recalling that the proper functioning of democratic institutions is a fundamental element of the EU accession process, the Council takes into account the reports on the December 2023 and June 2024 elections from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Stressing the importance of reforms, the Council strongly encourages Serbia to address the recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe bodies, including those related to key aspects of the electoral process.
The Council commends Serbia for its significant contribution to managing mixed migration flows towards the EU and continues to stress the need for further progress in asylum procedures and full alignment with the EU visa policy.
Relations with Kosovo
Serbia and Kosovo must work on de-escalation and refrain from unilateral and provocative actions that could lead to tensions and violence, as well as avoid "divisive rhetoric."
The Council condemns the events of 29 May 2023 and the "violent attack on Kosovo Police on 24 September 2023 in northern Kosovo."
"Serbia is expected to fully cooperate and take all necessary measures to arrest and promptly bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2023 attacks. The Council underscores the need for full accountability and deeply regrets that Serbia has not taken sufficient action in this regard," the conclusions state.
The Council takes note of Serbia’s call in September 2024 for Kosovo Serbs to participate in future elections in Kosovo and their reintegration into all Kosovo institutions they left in 2022. The Council reiterates its expectation that reintegration will be timely and swift, without any preconditions from Serbia, in line with the agreements reached in the Dialogue and with full respect for Kosovo’s legal framework.
The Council expects Serbia to engage in the EU-facilitated Dialogue in good faith and to reach a comprehensive, legally binding agreement with Kosovo on the normalisation of relations, in accordance with international law and EU acquis, without further delay. Normalisation of relations and the implementation of Dialogue obligations are key conditions on the European path for both parties, and without progress, both sides risk losing significant opportunities.
The Council welcomes the recent reaffirmation by Serbia and Kosovo of their commitment to the normalisation process. It also welcomes the conclusion of the commercial agreement on electricity supply in northern Kosovo in December 2023 and the mutual recognition of licence plates in January 2024.
The Council reiterates that the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia, along with its Implementation Annex adopted in February and March 2023, must be fully respected and implemented as soon as possible, without preconditions, along with all EU-related obligations stemming from the Dialogue. This includes the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities based on the draft Statute presented to the parties by the EU mediator.
Serbia is expected to begin recognising Kosovo documents and symbols in accordance with Article 1 of the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation.
The Council recalls that the benchmarks for Chapter 35 in Serbia’s accession negotiations have been revised to reflect Serbia’s obligations outlined in the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex.