The European Parliament has adopted rapporteur Vladimir Bilcik’s report on Serbia’s progress towards the EU membership but expressed regret that Belgrade did not align with the EU sanctions policy on Russia, a press release said on Wednesday.
“Parliament welcomes the fact that EU membership continues to be Serbia’s strategic goal, while regretting the lack of progress and even backsliding on issues that are fundamental for EU accession,” the press release said.
The EP report was adopted with 523 votes in favour, 78 against and 34 abstentions.
“(EP) Members express concern about the spread of disinformation and call on the Serbian authorities and the European Commission to fight disinformation, Russian propaganda and other hybrid threats in the Western Balkans,” the press release said.
The text of the amended report also states that Serbia and Kosovo must sign a legally binding agreement on the normalization of relations “based on mutual recognition”. This is the first time mutual recognition is mentioned in an official document of the EU institutions as a prerequisite for the normalization of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.
The European Parliament reiterated its call for Serbia to take measures to further increase media freedom, ensure freedom of expression and media pluralism.
(021.rs, N1, 06.07.2022)
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