Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic voiced his expectation that the European Commission will forward a Questionnaire to Serbia in November, thus initiating the process of assessing Serbia’s readiness to be granted EU candidate status.

In an interview for today’s edition of the Vecernje Novosti daily, Djelic confirmed that Serbia will prepare a reply to the Questionnaire in the first quarter of 2011.

Any additional questions and the arrival of a technical mission can be expected in the second quarter of 2011, while the European Commission will most likely state its opinion in September or October. This opinion will replace the Commission’s current annual report, Djelic explained.

For the first time instead of a report we will receive an detailed opinion of the European Commission, which, I am sure, will recommend us for EU candidate status, Djelic declared, adding that there is still a great deal of work to be completed in order to meet the conditions necessary for acquiring candidate status.

These conditions include full cooperation with the tribunal in The Hague, improvement of regional cooperation, adoption of a law on restitution, resolution of the issue of an increase in the number of asylum seekers and Roma inclusion.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that a new law on financing political parties must also be adopted, as well as functions of regulatory bodies improved, economic reform implemented and judicial reform completed.

Djelic emphasised that the focus will now shift from the political to the administrative sector, a technical area where Serbia has always been efficient and successful.

It is our goal to have the European Commission not only recommend Serbia for candidate status, but also that talks on EU entry should formally begin immediately following this, the Deputy Prime Minister underlined.