EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has said that only a stable political environment can assist in reaching the ambitious goals, which Serbia has set for itself in terms of its European integration, and underlined that political differences have to be resolved within the existent political process.

Political differences have to be settled within the existent political process, Fuele said at the EU-Serbia interparliamentary meeting held in Brussels on Monday.

He warned that an additional progress has to be made with regard to key reforms, adding that Serbia's policy has to be in line with the country's strategic goal (EU accession), while all the solutions have to be adjusted to the European standards.

The clock is ticking, and the EU is watching closely, said the EU commissioner.

According to Fuele, the European Commission is actively preparing its opinion, the analysis of Serbian answers to the EC questionnaire is completed, and additional technical questions aimed at further clarification of the data submitted in January have already been delivered to Serbia.

As regards the rule of law, Fuele noted that significant steps have been made towards a just judicial reform, but there is still much to be done in the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as that the new laws pertaining to the financing of political parties and elections have to be in conformity with the European standards and recommendations of the Venice Commission.

The EU top official called on Serbian political elite to unite and thus give the country a necessary momentum for the next step in the EU accession process, and warned that a declarative support for the country's EU future is just not enough, but that certain legal acts have to be adopted and implemented.

As for the EU, its officials have to keep their word and back all those people in Serbia who are trying hard to fulfill the well-known requirements and criteria, he added.

Fuele voiced his belief that, with the EU support, Serbia will continue to make a significant progress on its European pathway, which would send a positive signal to the entire region.