Speech
OSCE, Permanent Council No 550: EU Statement on Serbia and Montenegro

Date of Speech : 14-04-2005

Place : Vienna

Speaker : Jacques Reuter, permanent representative of Luxembourg to the OSCE

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

The EU considers the European Commission's 12 April report, recommending the opening of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and Montenegro, an important step for Serbia and Montenegro's progress towards EU integration. The Commission's comments on the need for cooperation with ICTY to continue and be reinforced until every indictee is in The Hague are particularly important. Our Ministers will discuss the Commission's report at the 25 April meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.

The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia* align themselves with this statement.

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process