Today, Justice Minister Nela Kuburović received the newly-appointed French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Louis Falconi to discuss Serbia’s path to joining the European Union (EU) and cooperation between the two countries in the field of justice.
Minister Kuburović and Ambassador Falconi concurred that Serbia and France had excellent bilateral relations in the area of justice, as reflected in close cooperation between the two Justice Ministries and judicial authorities of the two countries.
Minister Kuburović pointed out that for many years France had been providing major support to Serbia in the area of notarial practice, which proved crucial at a time when this novel judicial profession was being introduced and, subsequently, in the training of notaries public. She added that during the visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron to Serbia cooperation agreements between Serbia’s and France’s notaries public chambers and bailiffs chambers had been signed.
Minister Kuburović and Ambassador Falconi concurred that Chapters 23 and 24 − which encompass judicial reform, fight against corruption and overall advancement of the rule of law − were key to the progress of candidate countries towards full EU membership.
Discussing the recently published non-paper on a new method of EU accession by candidate countries or countries yet to open negotiations with the EU, the French Ambassador said that the way in which Serbia would be treated in the coming period remained unspecified. He explained that the Member States were yet to discuss the document so that the European Commission could reach an agreement on the issue in time for the Zagreb Summit 2020.
Minister Kuburović noted that from the very beginning of the accession negotiations with the EU, Serbia had been put in a different position compared to other candidate countries and subjected to much stricter accession requirements. Consequently, – she added − Serbia’s overall efforts in the EU integration process to date needed to be taken into account.