Sannino: Two reports crucial for Belgrade

As Sannino said for the Belgrade-based daily Blic on Wednesday, Ashton will submit the report on the achievements in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, while the European Commission will draft a report on the justice system reform, fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria and other reforms. Saninno believes that April is crucial for the decision on Serbia's date for talks, meaning that the Belgrade negotiating team has a month and a half to reach an agreement on open issues with Pristina. When asked whether Belgrade and Pristina will sign an agreement, Saninno said for Blic that this depends exclusively on Ashton. Photo video Tanjug, M. Trosic Serbia needs to show progress now Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Taci comprehend what they need to do, Stefano Sannino, director general for enlargement at the European Commission, said on Wednesday, adding that Serbia has to show progress now, because it will be too late for that in June. As he put it, there are good chances that Serbia will get a date for the start of EU accession talks in June. There are reasons for optimism in the light of what has been done so far. We have reached a very important moment in the process, when all previous efforts should turn into concrete moves in different areas. I believe you will do that, Sannino said in an interview for Novi Magazin weekly. He qualified as important the issues related to Kosovo and reforms, but added there is the third factor which should not be forgotten - political and economic criteria (the Copenhagen criteria) which need to be met. These are the three elements by which the country will be assessed and evaluated, Sannino said, adding that the European Commission is still collecting material for the progress report it will present on April 16. It is now hard to predict what kind of recommendation they will make, and concrete practice in different fields will be of key importance, he noted. Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on March 4 will be one of the key elements, but it is important to complete work in the field of justice, judicial reform, the fight against corruption, public administration reform and achieve a high level in the fight against discrimination and respect for minority rights, Sannino underlined. Asked if Serbia can count on a conditional date or a "timeframe" by which the EU would support its efforts if it does not get a date in June, he said he would not like to speak about backup versions. You are on the good way to achieve Plan A and get a date for the opening of negotiations and their start, Sannino concluded.