Clean Up Corruption & Organised Crime Before You Join, Europe Tells Serbia
Serbia has to clean up its record on corruption and organised crime, a European Commission report says. While recognising efforts already made in a Justice Ministry crack-down, the commissioners claim there are still too many cases stagnating in the system and not brought to court or conviction. If Serbia wants to progress to full candidacy of the European Union, it must clean up its own back yard first, they say.
While highlighting the issue of Kosovo as a significant stumbling block and condition in Belgrade’s journey towards Brussels, the report on Serbia’s level of EU readiness recommends that Serbia should be granted candidate status. Its recommendation is also based on the condition that further progress is seen in key areas, including infrastructure, the legislature, human rights and the economy.
Serbia’s EU Dream is Conditional on Renewed Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue
The European Commission has told Serbia’s Boris Tadić that he must get back around the table with Pristina if his EU dreams are to become a reality. As approval for the EU plummets to a ten-year low at home, President Tadić has been handed a report that recommends candidacy, on condition that Serbia sorts out its Kosovo situation. It does not go as far as to call for Serbia to recognise the independence of Kosovo, but Belgrade must work constructively with Pristina, if Tadić is to follow his yellow brick road to Brussels.
With Belgrade politicians already posturing in the long run up to next year’s elections, this explosive topic that runs so deep is certain to increase temperatures in coming months and could put pressure on Tadić to make his position clear one way or the other. Something he often appears unwilling to do, say his critics.
Serbia Has Failed its People & Dented its Future in Europe, a Democracy Campaigner Claims. The EU is Watching Closely, says EU Delegation
Banning Belgrade’s Pride Parade means Serbia has failed to maintain the basic human rights of freedom of expression and the right of assembly, an advocate for democracy has said. By outlawing public demonstrations, further progress towards EU membership would be ‘absurd’, said Ivana Howard, of theNational Endowment For Democracy. All this at a time when the EU say it is watching Serbia closely.
Serbia’s European future could be on the skids after its Interior Minister slapped a ban on the Pride Parade and all public demonstrations proposed for this weekend. The move was due to threatened violence and extreme action from nationalist hooligans and far right-wingers being deemed a threat to national security. In what amounted to an admission that it could not protect its people on the streets, Serbia has failed, said the Senior Programme Officer.
Belgrade Pride To End A Week Of Activity To Highlight LGBT Rights
Thousands are expected to take to the parks and streets for the Belgrade Pride Parade on Sunday 2 October. The march through the city centre, which has been so controversial in the past, will mark the close to a week of events, showcases and discussions that aim to turn the spotlight on improving the rights and encouraging greater acceptance for LGBT people in Serbia.
For many months, organisers, police and state bodies have been working flat out to deliver a safe and enjoyable Pride 2011 that does not repeat the events of previous attempts to march in peace. Even now, the route and timing for the march is a closely held secret, for security reasons. This year’s parade will mark the tenth anniversary of the city’s calamitous first Pride march, when violence shocked the world.
