December 11 (SeeNews) - Serbia opened two new chapters in its EU accession talks during an intergovernmental conference in Brussels on Monday, the government said.
The country opened Chapter 17 - Economic and Monetary Policy, and Chapter 18 - Statistics, Serbia's European integration ministry said late on Monday.
Serbia could open several chapters more at the conference, Serbian European integration minister Jadranka Joksimovic said at a news conference.
"I think we had significant, essential results in the field of rule of law. We are not dissatisfied because we are determined to be persistent, to be patient and to be very determined in our intention to become a member of the EU, because regardless that the reforms are most important for citizens - they could be implemented without European integration. But membership is the goal, and membership comes through the process of European integration," Joksimovic said.
The opened chapters confirm that Serbia's economic performance has been successful so far and the harmonisation with the EU standards will allow it to continue delivering good results, Joksimovic said. As for Chapter 18, Serbia wants to introduce new research into its statistical system, to measure and compare where it stands in terms of the quality of people's lives and to have a realistic picture, she added.
The European Commission started negotiations with Serbia on the country's accession to the bloc in January 2014. Serbia has opened 16 chapters in the accessions process thus far, and has closed two - Science and Research, and Education and Culture.