BELGRADE – “We can always influence the quality of cooperation between Serbia and Albania, and no doubt, it will have a positive impact on the quality of life of citizens, better relations in the region, and if I may say, consequently on the process of European integration. Furthermore, the quality of the projects that are based on European standards means that we have applied EU standards in our countries. These are tangible and visible things, and I am convinced that in this case the procedure will be on our side. In other words, we will formally come closer to EU membership,” said Ms. Jadranka Joksimovic, Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News.

Speaking of what Albania and Serbia could share to expedite the EU drive the Minister believes that through cooperation and exchange of experiences through specific chapters it is much easier to come to the conclusion that these are areas in which joint projects and a joint approach can have more positive effects than individual activities. Undoubtedly, there are various potentials which should be used.

“If we had thought like this twenty or fifty years ago, today our countries would probably be an example of successful cooperation, such as, for example, the states of the Visegrad Four and the Baltic Countries. I perceive Nis as a point of assembly, after which each following meeting should provide a lap time in the realization of our common goals,” said Joksimovic.

“Relations between Albanians and Serbs must and can only go upwards. I think that both prime ministers of our countries understand this very well, and more importantly they are paving such path. In this connection, we must use every possibility to establish cooperation,” she said.

“Regardless of how the Union will look like in three, five or ten years, integration in a number of areas on the territory of Europe will remain a necessity. We should never forget the words of some of the wise Europeans that Europe is stronger in the sum of its parts than its individual parts,” Ms. Jadranka Joksimovic, Minister without portfolio responsible for European Integration said in the interview that follows:

-I thank you, your Excellency for such an opportunity, to share views on one of the major issues for both countries Albania and Serbia like it is the EU Integration.Having this great opportunity would you be so kind to let our readers know at what stage is Serbia with regard to its drive to EU integration?

-Negotiations on the accession of Serbia symbolically started with the holding of the First Intergovernmental Conference on 21st January 2014. In the meantime, screening of legislation has been completed for all 35 chapters, and screening reports have been issued for most of them. Serbia has opened four chapters, 23 - Judiciary and fundamental rights; 24 - Justice, freedom, security; 32 - Financial control; 35 - Other issues.

We have prepared negotiating positions for another three chapters, and at this moment we are very actively engaged in the activities related to the preparation of negotiating positions, and fulfilling benchmarks and different criteria for almost all of the remaining chapters. But above all technical issues, the process of European integration has its strong political connotation.

The strong political connotation is reflected in the fact that one does not only negotiate with the European Commission, but with all the Member States individually. Another important political aspect refers to the internal political situation, because often, what one may find in some of the reports from Brussels, can be used as a trigger for internal political debate. The real skill is to take advantage of this debate to change society for the better, and to keep simultaneously the full legitimacy of your policy.

-Your country is a step before Albania which hopes to move faster following the reform in the justice system. But what have they to share to expedite such a process at these very interesting times?

-I believe that the primary aim should not be to speed up the process, but its quality. In the process of European integration there are things that you can and that you cannot influence. We can always influence the quality of cooperation between Serbia and Albania, and no doubt, it will have a positive impact on the quality of life of citizens, better relations in the region, and if I may say, consequently on the process of European integration. Furthermore, the quality of the projects that are based on European standards means that we have applied EU standards in our countries. These are tangible and visible things, and I am convinced that in this case the procedure will be on our side. In other words, we will formally come closer to EU membership.

-Which are some of the common things that Belgrade and Tirana can share in this field and what can Tirana profit from you at this stage?

-Serbia is ready to share all of its experiences in the process of European integration with its counterparts from Albania. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, if Tirana can apply some of our good experience, and just as significantly avoid some of the mistakes that we have made, this will undoubtedly facilitate Albania's European path. In this respect the experience we have gained by opening the chapter on the rule of law, namely in the development and implementation of action plans for chapters 23 and 24, could be valuable.

On the other hand, through cooperation and exchange of experiences through specific chapters it is much easier to come to the conclusion that these are areas in which joint projects and a joint approach can have more positive effects than individual activities. Undoubtedly, there are various potentials which should be used.

-I am of the opinion that the increased cooperation between the business communities which will climax with the Nis Forum is a good foundation in the right way towards integration, because in a way or another EU is involved in many projects and their experience is being shared. What do you expect from the Nis Forum as an added value to the integration of both countries bilaterally and in the frame of EU?

-Economic cooperation and joint projects serve primarily Albania and Serbia, and I strongly believe that this is a mature and rational approach of our Governments, and that this consequently can only bring us closer to Europe. If we had thought like this twenty or fifty years ago, today our countries would probably be an example of successful cooperation, such as, for example, the states of the Visegrad Four and the Baltic Countries. I perceive Nis as a point of assembly, after which each following meeting should provide a lap time in the realization of our common goals.

In addition, each subsequent gathering should provide us with more projects ready for implementation and funding. It is very important that one of the joint projects is the construction of the highway as a symbol of connecting people, economy, and ultimately societies.

-Ms. Minister, from time to time we see statements linking Serbia’s EU integration process with your relations with Russia and the EU mediated peace dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.Would you be so kind to shed some light on these issues?

-Serbia’s strategic commitment is to become a full member of the European Union. Our message to the citizens is that the most important changes must come on the path towards membership, not through the act of membership itself. The changes to which I refer are shaped by EU standards and that alone speaks where we belong, as does the fact that we are building a society based on European values, and that we wish to achieve a European standard of living. We sincerely believe that such a thing is not possible if you do not have good relations with everyone.

Relations between Albanians and Serbs must and can only go upwards. I think that both prime ministers of our countries understand this very well, and more importantly they are paving such path. In this connection, we must use every possibility to establish cooperation.

Relations between Serbia and Russia cannot jeopardize anyone. They can only be an investment for the future, because after a period of sanctions, a period of intensifying economic cooperation must come. This is also a chance for our region.

-And to conclude, do you see the entire Balkans as a member of the EU block and which would be its eventual impact on Europe and the world in general?

-Regardless of how the Union will look like in three, five or ten years, integration in a number of areas on the territory of Europe will remain a necessity. We should never forget the words of some of the wise Europeans that Europe is stronger in the sum of its parts than its individual parts.