Bilcik: Serbia has to turn words into deeds

NEWS 17.03.202114:59
Vladimir Bilčik
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European Parliament rapporteur Vladimir Bilcik MEP told an online debate that Serbia should turn its words into tangible deeds on its commitment to membership in the European Union.

He told the debate, organized by the European Movement in Serbia, that EU membership should not come as the victim of political struggle and competition in a democratic country. The Serbian government has expressed commitment to European integration and parliament has debated the European Commission report, he said and added that rule of law and judiciary reforms should be continued.

“We are ready to help support that commitment but we are at a point when progress depends on full commitment to the reform process,” he said and specified that the reforms are in rule of law, democratic changes of the culture and quality of the political dialogue in Serbia and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

He said that journalists and freedom of speech should be protected, adding that this is a crucial issue important to everyone in the EU. “Journalists are not there to please politicians who come and go. Journalists should play a strong role in society because they are one of the pillars of a democratic liberal society,” Bilcik said, adding that this is a condition for EU membership. “I expressed my concern over the campaign against (investigative news portal) KRIK,” he said. Attacks on journalists are dangerous and politicians should take care with their words because they are a powerful weapon in their hands, he added.

Bilcik said that the goal of the inter-party dialogue is not for European Parliament officials to bring in prepared responses or set the form of the dialogue. “We want to make the dialogue easier,” he said. According to him, it’s important to prepare for a comprehensive dialogue which will provide results relatively quickly.

“We appreciate the steps taken in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue which remains a strategic priority,” he said.