June 26 (SeeNews) - Serbia opened two new chapters in its EU accession talks at the 8th Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg on Monday, the government said.
These are Chapter 33 which deals with financial and budgetary provisions and Chapter 13 which deals with fishing, the Serbian government said in a statement.
Serbia's minister for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic, who leads the Serbian delegation to Luxembourg, said at a news conference that Serbia now has 14 chapters open, two of which have been temporarily closed.
She noted that Chapter 33 is very important for Serbia because it will help the country strengthen its administrative capacities, while Chapter 13 will enable it to use EU funds to restore its fish stock.
Joksimovic also promised that Serbia will meet the recommendations of the Venice Commission on constitutional amendments, and added that it has continued work on drafting a new media strategy with the aid of OSCE.
EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn highlighted the need for continuing reforms in the rule of law and freedom of speech, as well as in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo.
Hahn said that two new chapters were opened on the merits principle, and called on Serbia to harmonise its visa policy with the EU.
He said he expects Serbia will open new chapters during the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU in the second part of the year and stressed that reforms must continue.